Former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, has expressed concern over the upsurge of corruption and lies in the country, attributing the trend to the fast-sinking traditions and culture of the country.

According to her, Ghanaians had relegated the country’s rich culture and tradition, which taught a person to lead an upright life, to the background and this unfortunate situation had paved way for an obsession for money and personal gains.

Nana Konadu, therefore, tasked queenmothers to intervene to salvage the situation, stressing the need for traditional leaders and queenmothers to imbibe the spirit of love and uprightness in the youth.

The former First Lady was addressing a mammoth traditional durbar at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi dubbed, ‘Queenmothers’ Day and Traditional Food Fair’ which formed part of a series of activities lined up for Otumfuo’s 15 years anniversary on the throne.

It was graced by former President Jerry John Rawlings, Ashanti Regional Minister Samuel Sarpong, his deputy Samuel Yaw Adusei, Ashanti Regional Police Commander DCOP Kofi Boakye, and queenmothers from across the country including the Okyenhemaa, Nana Dokua and the Denkyirahemaa Nana Ayensu Saraa.

Nana Konadu urged queenmothers to play key roles to improve the country’s family systems, ensure good parenting, develop traditions and culture and also help to improve the environment.

She recounted the several key roles she played in the past to empower women in the country, including queenmothers, stressing that women in Ghana must be empowered so that they could play their roles as agents of development.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II also expressed worry over the decline in the country’s rich traditions and culture, adding that queenmothers, who are the mothers of the people, ought to position themselves properly so that they could help to train the youth well.

He also lamented over the love for money and lies in the country now, adding that it was the duty of queenmothers to ensure that the youth, who are the future leaders, were trained in acceptable ways in order to make them upright people.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II urged chiefs to support queenmothers so that together they could implement policies and programmes to help better the lives of their people.

The Asantehene thanked the Denkyirahemaa, Akwamuhemaa, Okyenhemaa and other queenmothers from across the country who attended the programme to honour him on his 15th year on the Golden Stool.

The Asantehene was of the conviction that the country’s developmental journey would be accelerated if traditional leaders, who wield a lot of power and respect in the country, unite and collectively work to promote the country.

First Lady Lordina Mahama, in a speech read on her behalf, also said she was not happy about the fact that Ghana’s culture and traditions were sinking, urging traditional leaders to intervene to salvage the unfortunate situation. She commended Otumfuo for the various roles he played to help promote Ghana’s peace.

The Minister for Gender and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur, charged queenmothers to reflect on the life of ex-Ejisuhemaa of blessed memory, Nana Yaa Asantewaa and emulate her bravery and courageous leadership qualities to help expedite Ghana’s development.

Deputy Minister for Tourism, Dzifa Gomashie, commended the Asantehene for organizing the rich durbar to empower queenmothers in Asanteman, urging other traditional council across the country to emulate the shining example.

The Zimbabwe High Commissioner and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Pavelyn Tendai Musaka tasked traditional leaders in Africa to visit one another so that they could tap the expertise and experience of everyone to transform the continent.

Speaking on behalf of the Asantehemaa, Nana Agyarko Difie, the Asante Mamponghemaa, thanked Otumfuo for instituting the durbar to empower queenmothers in Asanteman and expressed her appreciation to all those that attended the event, notably the queenmothers.

The traditional event was characterized by drumming and dancing, the highlight of which was when the Asantehene danced to traditional tunes with the Denkyirahemaa.

He later majestically embraced the Okyenhemaa, Nana Dokua.