After years of alarming deterioration and abandonment, the once-honoured Prampram traditional Cemetery has received a major facelift, thanks to the timely intervention of Asafoatse Lartey Bantama, a principal warrior of the Lakple Division of Prampram.
The cemetery, located in the heart of the Ningo-Prampram District, serves as the final resting place for generations of kings, royals, traditional elders, and indigenes from Prampram, Dawhenya, Afienya, and even parts of Tema. However, the sacred ground had, over time, been overtaken by bushy overgrowth, illegal sand winning activities, and rampant refuse dumping, turning it into a haven for criminals and a hotspot for public health concerns.
The deplorable state of the cemetery had led many residents to seek burial grounds elsewhere, including in Ningo and private cemeteries, fearing both potential airborne diseases and attacks due to the poor security of the area.
After repeated calls by concerned youth for urgent action were ignored by both local authorities and traditional leaders, Asafoatse Bantama stepped in to spearhead a comprehensive clean-up and rehabilitation exercise. Over a three-day period, dozens of volunteers, led by the Asafoatse and supported by heavy-duty equipment, cleared the overgrown vegetation, removed heaps of garbage, and rehabilitated access routes to restore the cemetery’s dignity and accessibility.
The East Lower Prampram Assemblyman, Clement Awuley Akwetteh, expressed his appreciation for Asafoatse Bantama’s decisive leadership. “We submitted several petitions to the District Assembly and the Traditional Council, but none yielded results. This intervention is a relief and a wake-up call to our local leadership,” he stated.
Local residents, including Reginald Alonzi, echoed similar sentiments. “The cemetery was in such a poor state that we dreaded burying our loved ones there. But thanks to Asafoatse Bantama, we can now honour our dead with the dignity they deserve,” he said.
Some youth have called on Asafoatse Bantama to take full custodianship of the cemetery, citing neglect by current palace managers, who they accuse of focusing solely on collecting burial fees without maintaining the site.
This remarkable community-led turnaround marks a powerful statement on the importance of cultural heritage and the role of traditional leaders in safeguarding sacred spaces. Many are hopeful that this move will spark long-term reforms in the maintenance and management of cemeteries and other community assets in the district.