who promote female genital mutilation

Kyebi (E/R), Oct. 12, GNA-Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, Okyenhene, has condemned the practice of Female Sexual Mutilation (FSM) and called for the prosecution of traditional authorities who promote it.

He explained that, the practice has outlived its usefulness and does not promote the welfare of women and need to be discouraged by all. Osagyefuo Ofori Panin was speaking at a durbar of chiefs and people of Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area at the Ofori Panin fie at Kyebi at the weekend to mark the 9th anniversary of his enstoolment as the Okyenhene.

The occasion was graced by 27 beauty queens, representing their countries at the Exquisite Face of the Universe World finals which comes off in Accra on October 18, 2008. He said polygamous marriages does not support the economic growth rate that the country would like to enjoy because it increases the fertility rate which worked against sustainable economic development.

Okyenhene urged the beauty queens to collectively use their positions to ensure that the world becomes a better place for all to leave so that the survival of a child should not be determine by the geographical position of the world where that child was born. He challenged the beauty queens to talk to the leaders of their countries for them to appreciate that, their greatness would not be determined by the wealth that they created for themselves but how they could support others to leave better lives.

Earlier, the Apagyahene of Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area, Nana Asante Bedeatuo enumerated the achievements of Okyenehene for the past nine years, including the promotion of environmental protection of the Atiwa Forest Reserve and the introduction of alternate livelihood projects for the people in the area which is supported by the World Bank.

He said Osagyefuo had instituted various programmes to promote the education and well-being of children in the area and also for the prevention of the spread of the HIV.