Nana Opetse II
The newly enstooled Queen of Supomu-Dunkwa in the Shama District of the Western Region, Lucie Blay, has promised to immediately fix challenges in the education of the girl-child in the area.
She has also indicated her willingness to build teachers and nurses quarters and advocate for the upgrading of the prosthetic centre in the area into a modern hospital.
Lucie Blay, a legal practitioner and sister of Freddie Blay, immediate past chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), was enstooled as the new Queen of the Supomu-Dunkwa community at a colourful ceremony last Saturday.
The astute lawyer, now bears the stool name Nana Opetse II, and takes after her predecessor who reigned decades ago.
Lucie Blay, a lawyer of great repute, has worked with many international organisations, including the American Embassy in Ivory Coast.
She was part of the team of professionals who drafted the 1992 Constitution of the country.
Her coronation last Saturday witnessed rich cultural display, incessant gunshots, traditional drumming and dancing as well as Asafo displays to the admiration of all.
Addressing the gathering, Stephen Asamoah Boateng, the Chieftaincy Minister, revealed that he was nurtured some four decades ago by the Blay family, and shared some fond memories of their living in those days.
He was therefore grateful to the Blays for supporting him and other young Ghanaian students in diverse ways.
He also encouraged chiefs to avoid mixing chieftaincy with politics in order to maintain the dignity of the institution.
For his part, Dan Botwe, the Minister for Local Government also narrated how the new queen saved his life and that of other young men who went on exile in Ivory Coast, adding, “Lawyer Lucie Blay is a very good woman with a good heart.”
“So we have come as family members after 40 years of saving our lives to share in this memorable day. Myself and Asamoah Boateng and the rest will forever be grateful to you,” he added.
The Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah was not enthused about the pockets of chieftaincy issues in the Shama District, adding, “the gateway to our region cannot be one without a leader to man.”
Nana Kojo Konduah VII, Chief of Elmina, called on the newly enstooled queen to help to resolve the many chieftaincy challenges in the area.
Other dignitaries present included Nana Kobena Nketsiah V, Paramount Chief of Essikado, Nana Hima Dekyi, Paramount Chief of Upper Dixcove and Mr. Freddie Blay.
Later, a ‘Lucie Blay Education Fund’ was instituted with a GH¢100,000 seed money by Dan Botwe, Stephen Asamoah Boateng and some dignitaries.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Supomu-Dunkwa