The Aowin Traditional Council has vowed to intensify efforts to clamp down on illegal activities in Enchi and surrounding communities.

The assurance follows a petition by a Ghanaian non-governmental organisation, Apex Citizens of Ghana, to the Council over what it describes as alleged misconduct by some foreign nationals operating in the area.

The group says its mission is to prevent xenophobic tensions in Ghana but raised concerns over the alleged acquisition of lands by foreigners, the installation of foreign nationals as traditional chiefs, and their involvement in retail trading activities reserved by law for Ghanaians.

Presenting the petition at the Enchi Palace, the group also alleged that some foreign nationals were involved in illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, as well as the trafficking of girls, including 13-year-olds, for commercial sex work in some communities.

Apex Citizens of Ghana specifically mentioned Nigerians, Chinese nationals and Fulani herdsmen, and called for closer scrutiny of their activities by traditional authorities and state regulatory agencies.

The group's Public Relations Officer, Peter Donkoh, expressed concern about what he described as the involvement of some Nigerian nationals in retail trading activities reserved by law for Ghanaians.

He also questioned the alleged installation of traditional chiefs by foreign nationals, urging traditional authorities to take steps to address what he described as unauthorised practices.

The Assistant Secretary of the organisation, Enyonam Adinkra, called on traditional authorities to take decisive action to ban commercial sex work and the unauthorised installation of chiefs within their jurisdictions.

She argued that traditional authorities are the rightful custodians of the land and must exercise their authority to protect local culture and maintain order.

On security, the group's Financial Secretary, Charlotte Amakye Boayewaa, appealed to the traditional authorities to collaborate with security experts abroad to strengthen security in their communities.

'Enchi has declared war on illegal activities'

Responding to the petition, the President of the Aowin Traditional Council, Beyeeman Tano Kwaw Benbuin III, said Enchi had declared war on all forms of illegal activity in the area.

He said the declaration would soon be formally communicated to the public through electronic, traditional and print media.

Beyeeman Tano Kwaw Benbuin III further directed his sub-chiefs to ensure that commercial sex work and other related illegal activities are banned within their jurisdictions.

He said intelligence available to him suggests that commercial sex work is still taking place in some communities despite previous efforts to curb the practice.

The traditional ruler mentioned S3wuomu, Nana B3suop3n and Yaa K3se among the communities where the alleged activities are ongoing.

He subsequently cautioned the Kwahuhene to take steps to ensure that commercial sex work is brought to an end in those areas.

The Aowin Traditional Council's position signals a renewed push by traditional authorities to work with relevant state institutions to address illegal activities and maintain law and order across the traditional area.