Agona Asafo Honours Vice President of Auburn University

The chiefs and people of Agona Asafo in the Central Region have installed the Vice President of Auburn University, Alabama, United States of America as Nkosuohene (development chief). The newly installed chief, known in private life as Dr. Royrickers Cook was given the stool name Nana Kwesi Cook I. Giving the background to the installation, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George K. T. Oduro said during a visit to Alabama, Dr. Cook expressed interest in the development of Africa so he in- turn invited him to Asafo so that he would help with the development of the town. Prof. Oduro, who is a native of the town, indicated the people readiness to cooperate with Dr. Cook to enhance the standard of living of the people. He indicated that with the installation, Dr. Cook has become an Ambassador of the Asafo to spearhead development of the people of the town. He also expressed the hope that Dr. Cook would liaise with others in the diaspora to facilitate the speedy development of the area. Addressing the gathering, the chief of Agona Asafo, Nana Yamfo Asuako XI, on behalf of the people thanked Prof. Oduro who he described as an asset to the town for his continuous show of love for his hometown. Nana Asuoko XI who is also the Nifahene of the Agona Nyakrom Traditional Area, again commended Prof. Oduro for his initiative to provide the townsfolk with a library. According to him, the library has helped to improve the results of last year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) tremendously. “Last year’s BECE results is the best so far in many years”, he said. Nana Asuako XI urged the youth in the area to develop interest in education since that was the surest best to their successes in future. The Chief appealed to Dr. Cook to help procure some teaching and learning materials as well as some recreational equipment for schools in the town to make teaching and learning easy and attractive to both students and pupils. Also, he urged the new Nkosuohene to assist the town to reclaim its past glory as the hub of agriculture especially in the area of vegetable farming. In his remarks, Nana Kwesi Cook I, thanked the chiefs and people of Asafo for their warm reception and indicated that the ceremony has given him a new perspective of how to deal with people. The Nkosuohene assured that he and his wife would make it an annual affair to visit the people of Asafo to deepen the relationship established for the development of the town. He said education is the key to development as well as a life long experience and therefore promised to be committed to this endeavour to benefit the people. It would be recalled that Dr. Cook led a delegation from Auburn University, USA to the University of Cape Coast for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate joint research and outreach programmes between the two institutions.