Member of Parliament for Abetifi and former Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr Bryan Acheampong, has announced a major redevelopment of the historic Kwahu State House at Abetifi in the Kwahu East District.
Speaking during a commissioning of the ultramodern Abetifi Taxi rank in Abetifi, Dr Acheampong said the project aims to restore the cultural and administrative significance of the State House, which will serve as a symbol of Kwahu heritage, governance and all important high-level events.
“The Kwahu State House is more than a building. People think it’s my home but no, we’re building it for Kwahu. It will be our highest political, governance and high-level events gathering venue’. It will host all high-level traditional and governance events. It will be our White House and this is how we want to build Kwahu. It represents our history, our unity, and our pride as a people. Its continuation will preserve that legacy for future generations while creating a functional space for traditional and civic activities,” he stated.
The continuation plan includes structural restoration, modern conference facilities, a heritage museum, offices for the Kwahu Traditional Council, and landscaped grounds for cultural events and durbars for political and corporate events. The design will blend traditional Kwahu architecture with modern amenities.
Dr Acheampong noted that the project will be executed through his personal coffers. We’re anticipating that local artisans and contractors will be prioritized to create jobs for youth in the area.
Chiefs of the Kwahu Traditional Area have welcomed the announcement, describing it as a timely intervention to preserve Kwahu identity and boost cultural tourism. The continuation is expected to complement major events like Kwahu Easter and the Paragliding Festival by providing a fitting venue for official and royal functions.
Work on the project is set to resume following a court case in 2019 that subsequently stalled the project for almost a decade. However, Dr. Acheampong noted that, a court ruling has cleared him including the awarding of ¢500,000 to be paid to him as penalty by a plaintiff who accused the MP for illegally erecting a building on her land.
In 2019, a woman who had a chamber and hall building situated where the state house was taking place accused Dr. Bryan Acheampong of trespassing.
Dr. Acheampong, following the initial agreement with other occupants of land in the area where the State House has been sited, constructed 3-bedroom for the plaintiff but refused to accept it.
Sources close to the MP revealed that one Abusuapanyin named Jonas reportedly connived with the plaintiff and accused the MP in a video that went viral on social media, for illegally trespassing on her land. The case was then taken to court, on the directions of Dr. Bryan Acheampong.
The court after hearing the case, determined that since the project is in the interest of the public and Kwahu people, ruled in favor of Mr. Acheampong and ordered that the plaintiff pay a fine of ¢500,000 to the MP and ordered the continuation of the project
The court ruling sets up the pace for the continuation of the project.
