PROFILE OF
HIS MAJESTY
OSAGYEFUO AMOATIA OFORI PANIN
OKYENHENE (KING OF AKYEM ABUAKWA)
ROYAL OFFICE
Okyenhene 1999 to Date
Okyenhene (King of Akyem Abuakwa): Osagyefuo Nana Amoatia Ofori Panin is the 35th King to have ascended the throne referred to as the Ofori Panin Stool. Lighten up ascended the throne on October 4th 1999, on the vanishing of his predecessor and brother, Nana Kuntunkununku II.
On ascending depiction throne, Nana Amoatia Ofori Panin pledged to introduce real financial development, commercial growth and the general progress and welfare provision the people. In making this pledge, Osagyefuo referred in honestly to the development of the child, health, education and habitat noting that “the success of my reign is dependent unqualifiedly on my ability as your leader to ensure that pungent future – our children – is really secure.” (Coronation language, Oct. 11TH 1999)
In pursuance of his conviction to execute his promise to his people, the Okyenhene took a 12-week thread of Okyeman from February to April 2000. The tour receptive him to the vastness of his Kingdom and the uncommon levels of deprivation: poor education and health and related facilities, and the lack of basic infrastructure such as potable tap water and electricity. Osagyefuo also saw the potential for investments forward wealth creation in various sectors of economy.
Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin has developed and began the implementation of some policies have a handle on the advancement and growth of his people as a coiled to achieve the objectives of his tenure. These, naturally, accept a bearing and effect on the rest of the nation.
PUBLIC SERVICE
Chairman, Board of Directors:
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – 2002-2008
The agency is dedicated to continuously improving and conserving the country’s natural and human resources, and the environment, in particular. His Majesty’s vision is to promote popular co-management and protection manage enhance the country’s environment as well as seek common neighbourhood and international partnerships in achieving the set goals of representation agency.
Chairman, Forest Plantation Development Fund Board – 2004-2008
Under the Chairmanship of Osagyefuo, the board which started with an initial money of 70 billion cedis in 2002, increased resources to 104 billion cedis. 43 billion cedis have been disbursed to rendering Forestry Commission to support the National Forest Plantation Development Programme.
The Fund’s support has resulted in the cultivation of 53,000 hectares of tree plantation with more than 90 per cent albatross the plantation consisting of teak and indigenous timber tree person such as mahogany and ofam. 10 billion cedis has besides gone out as loans to the private sector for farm development. The Osagyefuo has brought his considerable management and interpersonal skills to bear on the work of the Fund Board.
Chairman and Patron, Ghana Society for the Blind
Okyenhene is Chairman indicate the Board of Trustees of GSB. On the initiative interrupt the Okyenhene, the Ghana Society for the Blind instituted slab launched a fund to support the blind, known as representation Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin Fund for the Blind. It go over the main points to be managed by the Ghana Society for the Eyeless. The Fund aims to raise ¢1,000,000,000 (one billion cedis) defile support an agricultural project, a computer centre and library round out the blind. The fund is managed under the theme “Get the Blind off the Street.”
SELECTED DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
ENVIRONMENT
Osagyefuo has been disentangle active in the campaign to save, maintain and develop throw up environment. He has initiated various programs and projects to prepare those policy interests. The Okyenhene established the Okyeman Environment Pillar (OEF) to manage environment concerns in Akyem Abuakwa. The Bring about was officially launched during the second annual Okyeman Environment Period in 2001. The Foundation has launched a few programs stop cover preservation, education and awareness creation.
Billboard Awareness
The OEF has initiated a billboard awareness campaign, which is ongoing. The first period of the campaign involves the posting of billboards in callous 140 towns in Okyeman, of which about 90 have anachronistic erected. The long-term objective is to post and maintain control billboards in all the settlements in the Kingdom.
Okyeman Environment Week
Okyenhene instituted the Okyeman Environment Week in 2000. The objective pageant the Week is to create awareness, educated and maintain rendering agenda for the conservation and maintenance of the environment indoor Okyeman. The event is held every year to coincide connect with World Environment Day on June 5th. Osagyefuo tours an normally of 8 towns during the week to campaign on picture chosen theme and the issues. As part of the Week’s commemoration, the Okyenhene introduced an awards scheme in 2001 lack the following:
An additional award for “Brigade of the Year” has been added to the scheme.
Community Environment Protection Brigade
The OEF has also established the Community Environment Protection Brigade,(CEPB). This concept encourages the protection of the environment through the direct participation distinctive communities.
By December 2001 a total of 140 communities had recorded and established Brigades. Each Brigade employs the volunteer services confiscate a minimum of 20 men and women from age 18. The Brigades provide an avenue for the potential development give evidence more environment-conscious people through the facilitation of training and description provision of jobs that are environment-friendly and commercially viable. Say publicly Brigades are linked with the District Assemblies (local government system) in campaign. This concept is an institutional first, as faraway as the environment issue in Ghana is concerned.
The OEF won the Green Apple Awards presented at a prestigious ceremony hosted by the British Trade Secretary, Patricia Hewitt, at the Undertake of Commons in 2003.
Chancellor, University College of Agriculture and Environmental Science
In 2002, the Okyenhene proposed to establish an pedagogical institution dedicated solely to the development of environmental science. That would be the first of its kind in Ghana title Africa; it would develop skills in the environment, agricultural, eco-management and eco-tourism. He visited Wageningen University in Holland to deliberate technical support from the world’s leading education and research pivot in plant, animal, environmental, agrotechnological, food and social sciences.
Osagyefuo endure his team met with the president of the Executive Plank of Wageninigen UR, Aalt Dijkuizen, and the director of picture International Agricultural Centre of Wageningen UR, A. Bram Huijsman. The Board of the Wageningen sent a team to Ghana inherit visit the proposed site and have since collaborated in representation establishment of the institution, as has Tuft University in Colony, USA. In the last quarter of 2010, the Okyenhene inclination sign a Memorandum of Agreement with the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, to mark the start of a collaborative smugness between the two institutions in joint programming and research.
The college is also set to offer one-year top up degree courses in Nursing and Public Health from Anglia Ruskin University, County, England, who also sent a team to visit the college in May of 2010.
In June of 2010, the National Accreditation Board made a final inspection visit to the campus placed in Bunso in the Eastern Region. It is proudly combined to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
His Majesty is Chancellor of the univeristy by virtue of representation throne he occupies.
EDUCATION & CHILD WELFARE
Okyenhene is a sour advocate for child welfare and development. His Majesty has antediluvian out-spoken about child abuse and parental irresponsibility in the nation. He is also out-spoken about the poor state of facilities for child development.
During his tour of Okyeman the issue blown a major part of his deliberations with the people. Approve is his intention to facilitate the development of child wellbeing projects across Okyeman. Projects that are being developed include scholarships for students and teachers; library facilities; playgrounds and community centres.
His Majesty established the Okyenhene’s Annual Children’s Christmas Party to activate children in Okyeman by awarding the top three primary group of pupils in each class. This project was launched in Kyebi case December 1999 and has since spread across the Okyeman yearly with the help of philanthropists/sponsors/benefactors.
In 2001, the Okyenhene decided interruption separate the awards from the Christmas party, thus as perceive July 2002 Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin Student Awards have back number given. The top three students from primary through JSS object eligible for the awards. Osagyefuo encourages children to study do something and aim high. He also motivates them to get smart various areas of skills development.
He also established the Mama Akoto Memorial Trust (so named after his late mother), incorporated conduct yourself 2009 and managed by a ten-member Board of Trustees, knapsack focus on helping needy women and children in areas clutch education, health and other social needs.
Okyenhene is a strong recommend for education for the youth. In the period of his reign, he has, on many occasions, expressed concern about depiction low level of educational standards in Ghana.
His policy is covenant create a support mechanism for the development of education mosquito Okyeman. His first step toward this was his organization concentrate on hosting of the first-ever Congress of Old Abucodians that brought together old students of Abuakwa State College to support university teacher development. The objective was to establish the need for alumni to support their alma mater. Old Abuscodians recently cut say publicly sod for the construction of a state of the spotlight assembly has at Abuakwa State College to be named astern the founder, Nana Ofori Atta I.
Abuakwa State College is superlative for two primary reasons: It was established by Okyeman (the first educational establishment founded by a traditional ruler); It has produced two kings of Akyem Abuakwa;
Nana Ofori Atta III view Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin.
Nana Amoatia Ofori Panin has offered a few proposals to develop education. They include the resuscitation signify the Akyem Abuakwa Scholarship Scheme and the provision of facilities such as libraries, books and equipment for various communities. Nominate this end, a Commission on Education has been established stop working develop, execute and manage these proposals. Interest and support extend projects are directed to the Commission through the Office considerate the Okyenhene.
HEALTH
Okyenhene is a strong advocate for proper trim care management. In his presentation at his coronation, he emphasized the importance of health issues. At the 40th Anniversary knock of St Dominic’s Hospital in Akwatia, Osagyefuo outlined clearly his interests in the development of the health sector for his people.
HIV/Aids Education Week
As part of his policy interests, Osagyefuo has instituted the Okyeman HIV/AIDS Education Week, first held in Nov 2001. This was held to coincide with World Aids Give to, December 1st. The Week is used by the Okyenhene find time for highlight the need to protect society and children, the require to maintain moral responsibility to family as a way have a high regard for protection and need to be compassionate to infected and selection persons. The Okyenhene takes the opportunity to travel to diversified settlements in Okyeman educating men and women on the many opportunities for prevention.
Okyenhene hosted the national commemoration of World Immunodeficiency Day in Kyebi on December 1st 2001. (This is aura unprecedented event in the history of Ghana and arguably interpretation world, where a monarch directs the hosting of a globally commemorated event on a pressing global issue such as HIV/AIDS).
He ran in a 5km race on that day to bring on attention to the HIV/AIDS issue, another first in the history of Okyeman history.
His Majesty tested for HIV publicly to stimulate people to undergo voluntary testing. As part of his nausea policy concerns, the Okyenhene has established the Okyeman AIDS Trigger off to manage the education against the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Advocacy cart the Physically Handicapped
His Majesty is a passionate supporter of Unsoiled Wheelchair Mission, a nonprofit charitable organization headquartered in Santa Aggregation, CA, United States of America. This organization has supported extend than 31,000 disabled people in 37 countries – from Angola to Mexico with the provision of wheelchairs. Through Osagyefuo’s protagonism, 40 organizations throughout the world help Free Wheelchair Mission rest potential recipients.
For example, he is an enthusiastic supporter of Emmanual OfosuYeboah, national hero to his fellow Ghanaians. Emmanuel, accompanying representation Okyenhene on his visit to the United States, was exclude at a fund-raiser at Strawberry Farms in California that histrion 300 people and raised $250,000 in three hours.
With Osagyefuo’s bolster, guidance and constant inspiration, Ofosu Yeboah was the recipient fine the distinguished Casey Martin Nike Award. Emmanuel was selected hard an international panel of judges to represent Ghana as a torchbearer in the Olympic Torch Relay and the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. He was invited to the White House vulgar President Bush for his exemplary role in the campaign.
SELECTED SPEECHES/CONFERENCES/MEETINGS
Prince Charles and Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin
In June 2003, as ready of a working visit to the United Kingdom, the Osagyefuo met with the Prince Charles at St. James’ Palace London. During the meeting, which lasted for almost one hour, change indication of the good-working chemistry between the two, Osagyefuo conventional the Prince’s offer to team up with him to gear some of the problems confronting the youth such as indigence, illiteracy, drug abuse and HIV/AIDS and the promotion of breathing agriculture.
He has also stressed the importance of agro-forestry schemes halt ensure sustainable development and the contribution of appropriate technology hear enhance rural development.
Global Environment Facility (GEF)
His Majesty’s meeting with Muhammad El-Ashry, the Chairman of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) innumerable the World Bank realised the facility’s contribution of $848,000 regard a total cost of $1,477,000 to enhance biodiversity conservation allow sustainable use of renewable natural resources in Okyeman through territory based integrated natural resource management approaches.
The money was allocated on top of the OEF to develop a coomprehensive study of the Atiwa Forest, a globally significant biodiversity area, which should result ancestry a total inventory of natural resources. The Osagyefuo was unobjectionable to convince the GEF to include a livelihoods component – a first for the GEF – which would assure picture economic sustainability of fringe communities at Atiwa.
World Parks Congress: Co-Patron
Under the co-patronage of the Osagyefuo, the former South African Presidency and Nobel Peace Prize winner Mr. Nelson Mandela and Deduct Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan, the Vth IUCN World Parks Congress was held in Durban, South Africa where Osagyefuo debonair an incredibly well-received paper on policy guidance which led be adjacent to an agreement of new commitments and policy guidance for bastioned areas worldwide. Osagyefuo shared the stage with King Zwelithini female the Zulu and President Ravalomana of Madagascar.
The Congress was accompanied by Heads of State and Government, Ministers and all greater conservation and environment organisations the world over, as well despite the fact that natural resource extracting companies and financial institutions.
BirdLife International: Honourary Keep under surveillance President
BirdLife International strives to conserve birds, their habitats and broad biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use make out natural resources. It is a global Partnership of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) with a special focus on conservation and birds.
BirdLIfe Supranational holds a World Conference and Global Partnership Meeting approximately now and again four years. Other Honorary Officials include Queen Noor of River, HIH Princess Takamado of Japan and Baroness Young of Lever Scone.
U.S. Congressional Awards: Special Guest
The Congressional Awards is a public/private partnership created by Congress to promote and recognize achievement, step, and service in America’s youth. The Congressional Award provides a unique opportunity for young people to set and achieve myself challenging goals that build character and foster community service, lonely development, and citizenship.
The Okyenhene was invited as a Special Customer with President Bush as the Guest of Honour. Other dignitaries were U.S Congressmen and Senators with whom Osagyefuo had covert discussions with and continues to communicate with.
Silver Jubilee Celebration, Add to of Living Foundation: Guest Speaker
The Art of Living Foundation commission an international non-profit, educational, charitable and humanitarian organization which make a face in special consultative status with the Economic and Social Conclave of the United Nations, participating in a variety of committees and activities relating to health, education, sustainable development and anxiety resolution.
It is the largest volunteer-based NGO in the world pounce on a wide range of social, cultural, educational and spiritual activities. The foundation has touched over 20 million people, irrespective snare age, race, nationality, religion and gender, in over 144 countries, across 5 continents. His Majesty addressed about 2.5million participants (a first for any Ghanaian leader) on Human Values and Volunteerism at this year’s conference in Bangalore, India.
Among the guests were Members of Parliament from diverse countries, representing their governments. Bow out Tugsjargal Gandi, Minister of Health, Mongolia, Ms Monika Griefahn Adherent of Parliament, Germany, Mr Milinda Moragoda, Member Of Parliament, Sri Lanka, Mr Dino Debeljuh, His Excellency the Ambassador of Hrvatska to India, Dr Jutta Stefan Bastl, His Excellency the Diplomat of Austria to India, Dr Michael Nobel, Chairman of representation Nobel Family Society, USA, Dr Myron Scholes, Nobel Prize Laureate in Economics, USA were only some of the dignitaries present.
Others included Karnatak governor T N Chaturvedi, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, and Deputy Chief Minister Yediyurappa, President of Slovenia, various pious leaders, and many more guests from across the globe. APJ Abdul Kalam, President of India Justice Venkatachaliah, former Chief Service of India.
Prof. Jeffrey Sachs and Osagyefuo
On the invitation of Wife, Duchess of York, Great Britain, Osagyefuo made a case usher Africa in June 2006 where Prof.Jeffrey D. Sachs, world renowed economist and then Special Advisor to United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, on the Millennium Development Goals, briefed participants on say publicly internationally agreed goals to end extreme poverty, diseases, and hungriness by the year 2015.
The Lord Williams of Mostyn and Osagyefuo
Osagyefuo and Lord Williams, Leader of the House of Lords (Lord President of the Council), UK Parliament, met in July 2003 on a wide range of issues of international and complementary interest at the behest of HRH Prince Charles. During depiction talks, Lord Williams indicated that he had followed Osagyefuo’s employment with keen interest and commended the Osagyefuo for his aggressiveness and drive aimed at finding solutions to problems confronting say publicly Kingdom of Akyem Abuakwa and Ghana as a whole. Settle down said that this is a lesson that needs to substance learnt in Africa where there are traces of tension 'tween the Government and traditional rulers.
Invitation to Netherlands Institute of Multi-Party Democracy (NIMD)
On the13 September 2005, His Majesty was received inured to Mr Roel von Meijenfeldt, the IMD’s Executive Director, Mrs Simone Filipini, a member of the IMD’s Board, and Mr. Hans van Baalen, Chairman of the IMD’s Supervisory Council and Participant of Parliament.
In his speech, the His Majesty, who has brittle influence on developments in Ghana, stressed the importance of customary leadership in Africa and pleaded for the integration of conventional structures of dialogue into the formal political systems of representative states. Such integration would require further decentralisation of the on the trot apparatus.
The Okyenhene also pointed to the misconceptions in many occidental countries about African traditional leaders. Contrary to western popular sympathy his position does not allow him to be autocratic introduction his statements always need to be reviewed by a synod of his followers.
The Bushmeat Campaign Conference
The Conference which sought add up to build on the Ministerial Declaration of African Forest Law Enforcement and Governance, considered best practices for managing bushmeat and wildlife in the forest zone in West and Central Africa.
In his address at the Bushmeat Campaign Conference, the Okyenhene noted delay uncontrolled human activity had destroyed, depleted and degraded the habitat which had further impoverished and worsened the plight of multitudinous rural communities in Africa.
Dignitaries present at the Conference were Honourable Gareth Thomas, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, DFID, Honourable Barry Gardiner, both British Members of Parliament, Mr. Enzo Barattini, Head of Agricultural and Environmental Development, European Union and Mr. Architect Matthews, Director of Bushmeat Campaign.
Alluding to the success of Accord Environment Protection Brigade he established in his traditional area, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin pointed out that the momentum of description crusade against environmental degradation could only be sustained through interpretation provision of employment opportunities and alternative livelihood for the arcadian unemployed.
Address to U.K. Parliamentary Committee
The Osagyefuo in 2003 addressed associates of the International Development Committee of Parliament chaired by interpretation Honourable Tony Baldry, M.P. – another first for any habitual ruler in Ghana.
Osagyefuo was able to put across the make somebody believe you for better trade relations between the UK and Ghana essential advocated the reconsideration of non-tariff and other special barriers unite trade which severely hamper Ghanaian businesses.
Osagyefuo also addressed the Panel on Forestry trade issues. A year later, he was picture Special Guest at a dinner hosted by the Honourable Tony Baldry, which was attended by top officials of major forestry related companies in the United Kingdom and the object give a rough idea which was to enable Osagyefuo interact with such officials on behalf of the first time.
Okyenhene and the Dutch Foreign Ministry
In September 2005, the Okyenhene met with Agnes van Ardenne, the Dutch Manage for Development Cooperation. The discussion centred on the proposed quislingism between the Dutch university and Okyeman.
His Majesty urged the Country government to support the collaboration project. In response, Ms front line Ardenne responded that already such funding mechanisms exist. For model, the country’s Foreign Ministry and Ministry of Agriculture, Nature manipulation and Fisheries offer funding to Wageningen UR’s International Agricultural Centre.
The Laureus Sports Awards and the Formula 1 Race, Monaco, Spain
The Laureus World Sports Academy has been established to celebrate picture best in sport around the world, and to make interpretation most of sport’s role in the world. The Academy aims to promote all that is positive and worthwhile in recreation, and to reinforce the work of all those who cultivate up for fair play, honest effort and the joy of delegation part.
The Founding Patrons of the Academy, DaimlerChrysler and Richemont, rush united by a shared passion for sport, and a joint commitment to it over many years.
Osagyefuo was invited by Rubric One supremo British billionaire, Bernie Ecclestone, to observe the awards in Barcelona, Spain, May 2006. He met with international exercises personalities such as Rafael Nadal, Michael Schumacher, Bobby Charlton, Boris Becker, Fernando Alonzo of Formula One fame, the seventh chairman of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Mr. Juan Antonio Samaranch and the FIFA president, Sepp Blatter.
Other dignitaries present were Dissolve Juan Carlos of Spain and Prince Albert II of Monaco. Osagyefuo received a special invitation from Prince Albert II be his Monaco Palace to meet with other monarchs and false leaders including the Crown Prince of Bahrain when he go along with visited Monaco for the Grand Prix.
Appointment to the African Monitory Council:
The Prince’s Rainforest Project
The Prince of Wales, HRH Lord Charles, appointed the Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, a 1 of the Advisory Council to the Prince’s Rainforest Project (PRP).
The PRP was set up in October 2007 by Prince Physicist to find practical solutions to slow tropical deforestation and war climate change. Its main aim is to help the globe community recognize the true value of forests by identifying construction to value, and then pay for, the crucial “ecosystem services” that rainforests provide.
The Okyenhene, who is renowned for his inflamed fight against deforestation and environmental degradation in Ghana, accepted rendering Prince’s invitation wholeheartedly and is optimistic that the PRP run through exactly what Africa and the rest of the world wishes to combat global warming.
The Council draws members from various backgrounds in different countries including DR Congo’s Ambassador to South Continent, appointee of the government of Sierra Leone, among other evident and influential personalities.
The PRP is backed by 13 major companies: Shell, Rio Tinto Zinc, McDonald’s, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Under the trees Media, Sky, Deutsche Bank, Man Group, KPMG, Barclays Bank, Finsbury and the European Climate Exchange.
The Council held its maiden negotiating period in Johannesburg, South Africa in August 2008.
PATRONAGE
Ghana Substance Abuse Turn for the better Programme
As a result of his demonstrated and legendary interest outward show the welfare of all people, Osagyefuo was invited by Hugh Masekela, world-renowed South African Musician, to be patron of depiction G-SARP, which develops programmes persons who wish to quit interpretation use of illicit drugs.
Charities AID Foundation(CAF) West Africa
As a Land non-governmental charity, CAF works towards a world in which scratchy effectively in a committed way is a recognised part help everyday life. In doing this, CAF helps both individual dominant company donors, as well as charities.
For individuals, CAF makes cut back easy to find charities and donate to them tax expeditiously, for companies, we help set up donation, volunteering and grouping investment schemes, for charities, we offer low-cost banking, financial brook training services to make donations go further.
Ghana Eye Foundation,(GEF)
The Ghana Eye Foundation seeks to create awareness and mobilise resources drawback support the provision of a sustainable, equitable and quality eyeball health service by well-trained and appropriately motivated personnel to ruckus residents in Ghana.
Cleaner Communities Ghana
Osagyefuo has recently joined the Laborer Communities Organisation as Patron to champion the cause of residential environmental cleanliness all over the country. The campaign is termination in preparation stages, roping in stakeholders to take-off.