Oti/Volta File: Santrokofi Bume Adontenhene proposes to set up Rural Bank

The newly sworn-in Adontenhene of Santrokofi-Bume in the Santrokofi Traditional Area in the Oti Region has proposed the establishment of a rural bank in the area for his people to save money and access loans to boost their personal and business growth.

Nana Otitiaku IV, who was officially sworn in as the Chief of Santrokofi-Bume and the Adontehene of the Santrokofi Traditional Area, observed the travelling hustles and risks his people go through daily to and from Hohoe, several kilometres away, for financial services.
SantrokofiBume, through self-help and Homecoming Festivals has built a bungalow for nurses and teachers who are posted to the area.

Through the same means, Santrokofi-Bume has connected most homes in the area and adjourning communities to potable water supply from the mountains.
Therefore, to consolidate the gains of Bume, Nana Otitiaku IV said he worked hard to tackle food security challenges by establishing a storage and distribution centre.

This, and a well-established and well-structured market to enhance trade, attract merchants, create jobs and boost the local economy, he explained, would ensure better market prices for farm produce and encourage the youth in Bume to participate in agriculture.

To curb rural-urban migration, he proposed a vocational training centre to equip the unemployed youth with practical skills to enable them to secure local employment and contribute to community development.
Bume holds its public events on the Bume public school park along the Hohoe-Jasikan road. To end this, Nana Otitiaku IV stressed the need for multipurpose community centres for social gatherings, cultural events and civic discussions across Santrokofi.

Reflecting on the challenges of the past four years, Nana Otitiaku IV acknowledged the test of patience as a leadership quality, crediting the grace of God for enabling him to overcome these challenges.

Expressing his commitment to serving his people, he urged the youth to focus on productive ventures such as agriculture and trade rather than engaging in social vices such as excessive drinking and drug abuse.
He also encouraged mutual respect and cooperation for the collective progress of Santrokofi.

“My doors remain open for constructive ideas and discussions on how to move forward. Let us respect one another’s opinions and work in harmony towards a common goal,” Nana Otitiaku IV affirmed.
The ceremony, held under the auspices of Nana Letsabi II, the Paramount Chief of Santrokofi Traditional Area, marked the resolution of a long-standing chieftaincy dispute.

Nana Otitiaku IV, consequently, called for unity among all Santrokofis, urging them to put aside their differences and focus on their greatest strengths as a people and encouraged all to work together for the progress of Santrokofi.

In his remarks, Nana Letsabi II, the Paramount Chief and President of the Santrokofi Traditional Council, urged his citizens to uphold unity and eschew divisions.
He emphasised the need for each community to develop a strategic plan to address local challenges effectively.

As part of customary rites, an oath of allegiance and an oath of office were administered to Nana Otitiaku IV, formally installing him as the Chief of Santrokofi Bume (Okpoo?ka of SantrokofiBume) and the Adontehene of the Santrokofi Traditional Area.

Earlier in the morning, a historian recounted the roles and responsibilities of the Adontehene, highlighting their historical military leadership, community security oversight and cultural preservation duties.

Though the military aspect has diminished in modern times, the Adontehene remains a symbol of leadership, stability and heritage within the traditional council.
To climax the ceremony, the newly enstooled chief displayed his dancing prowess after taking the oath of office, which was followed by the customary slaughtering of a ram to symbolise the completion of his installation.
The event was filled with cultural displays, including drumming and dancing by the Asafo group, as citizens celebrated this historic moment in Santrokofi.

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