Ghana boasts a remarkable treasure: what’s considered the largest palace in West Africa, nestled within the community of Assin Kushea. While not widely known, this town has garnered significant attention for two impressive achievements: its expansive 7.4-acre palace and its reputation as the cleanest place in Ghana.
The driving force behind Assin Kushea’s transformation is Nana Prah Agyensaim VI, the Paramount Chief of the Owirenkyi Traditional Area. From the moment he ascended the throne, Nana Prah Agyensaim VI understood that he couldn’t simply emulate other paramountcies. Instead, he chose a path of distinction, aiming to make his area unique. This commitment to being “different” sparked the initiatives that ultimately led to Assin Kushea’s recognition as Ghana’s cleanest town.
A Visionary Leader’s Journey
During an interview on GhanaWeb TV’s “People & Places,” host Etsey Atisu sat down with Nana Prah Agyensaim VI at the Assin Kushea Palace. The Chief recounted his inspiring story, revealing a profound insight that shaped his approach to community development.
Nana realized he could leverage an inherent Ghanaian custom to tackle a major issue: sanitation. He observed: “We as Ghanaians had the tradition of throwing leaves away, when we used to eat from leaves… after you finish eating, the natural thing to do is throw the leaves away. In those days, it didn’t matter because the leaves would decompose. So, we were not littering, but the habit of throwing had been ingrained in us.”
He continued, “So, when this creature called plastic came, we put our food in the plastic, after eating, we throw it away because that is the habit that we had inculcated in us. So, my problem was to stop the throwing away.”
This keen observation led Nana Prah Agyensaim VI to focus on changing a deeply ingrained habit, rather than just addressing the symptoms of littering. His goal was to fundamentally shift the mindset around waste disposal.
From Palace to Tourist Destination
Beyond his pioneering sanitation efforts, Nana Prah Agyensaim VI also shared the motivations behind the construction of the majestic Kushea Palace. Today, this impressive structure stands as a testament to his vision and has become a popular tourist destination, attracting many visitors eager to experience its grandeur and learn about the chief’s transformative leadership.
The story of Assin Kushea is a powerful example of how visionary leadership, coupled with an understanding of local culture, can create significant positive change and put a community on the map for all the right reasons.
Source: http://thepressradio.com
