Boateh, a quiet farming community in the Abuakwa South Municipality, was filled with colour, music and celebration last Tuesday as residents gathered to witness the official inauguration and handover of a newly constructed Durbar Ground.
The project, a collaboration between Advocates for Community Alternatives (ACA), the Abuakwa South Municipal Assembly and the people of Boateh, marks another milestone in community-driven development within the municipality. It was implemented under ACA’s Oman yie die project, a community-driven development mechanism, that empowers local communities through planning, implementation and microgrants.
What made the occasion particularly significant was not just the unveiling of a physical structure, but the story of unity and collective effort behind it.
Speaking during the occasion, ACA’s Senior Trainer Francis Manu described the event as more than the commissioning of a project.
“Today is not just the commissioning of a project,” he said. “Today is the commissioning of unity, vision, and self-belief.”
He noted that through the FCAP process, the people of Boateh chose not to wait for development to come to them, but instead took the bold step to plan, decide and work together to bring their vision to life.
“You didn’t wait to be developed; you chose to develop yourselves. You planned together. You decided together. You worked together. And today, you celebrate together,” he stated to loud applause.
Drawing on Akan proverbs to underscore the spirit of togetherness, Mr. Manu quoted, “Nsa baako nkura adesoa” (One hand cannot lift a load), explaining that the Durbar Ground stands as proof that when hands come together, burdens become lighter and dreams become achievable.
He added another proverb, “Baakofoɔ nsa ntɔ dua” (One person’s hand cannot fell a tree), emphasizing that the strength of the community lies in its unity. According to him, Boateh’s achievement demonstrates that development is not imported but built from within.
Mr. Manu urged the community to see the Durbar Ground as only the beginning. As an income-generating project, he encouraged residents to remain accountable to one another, mobilize funds, revisit their community development vision board, and collectively pursue their next project.
“If you could achieve this together, then you can achieve more,” he charged. “Tell the world that you did it together, and you can do it again and again.”
Representing the Municipal Chief Executive, the Abuakwa South Municipal Planning Officer, Aaron Addo Yirenkyi, reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to its partnership with ACA and revealed that the collaboration has so far resulted in the implementation of 33 community-driven projects across the municipality.
He commended the people of Boateh for their unity and determination in executing the Durbar Ground project, expressing admiration for their spirit of volunteerism.
“The Assembly values and treasures its partnership with ACA,” he said, adding that Boateh’s example reflects what communities can accomplish when they take ownership of development initiatives.
On behalf of the community, the Chief of Boateh, Dade Mantse Tetteh Kwabena, expressed profound gratitude to ACA and the Municipal Assembly for their support. He appealed for continued collaboration and more development projects to improve the area.
As drums echoed across the new grounds and residents mingled in celebration, one message resonated clearly: the Durbar Ground is more than a gathering space. It is a symbol of togetherness, courage and community power, a testament that when Boateh walks together, it moves forward together.
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