Story: Samuel Duodu, Agyemankrom
Irate youth from Agyemankrom, a farming community near Dormaa-Ahenkro in the Brong Ahafo Region, have shot and killed a man believed to be in his 50s whom they alleged to be a member of a serial killing gang.
The deceased, Kwesi Kyeremeh, who was in the company of three other men now at large, was arrested by the youth following an alarm raised by a farmer, James Oppong, of Agyemankrom.
Oppong was said to have claimed that the four men, including the deceased, had chased him on his farm with the intention to kill him for ritual purposes.
According to eyewitness accounts, Oppong mobilised the youth, after his escape, back into the bush and Kyeremeh was arrested.
Kyeremeh was then sent to the Agyemankrom chief’s palace where a thick crowd had gathered. After the chief had been briefed about the alleged intention of the deceased and his friends, he was said to have requested to contact the police but immediately he left the palace he heard a gunshot, only to go back to find the deceased in a pool of blood.
The incident occurred around 11.00 p.m. on Monday.
No arrest has been made but the Dormaa-Ahenkro Police have invited the chief, the farmer who raised the alarm and a Customs officer who witnessed the alleged attack on the farmer for questioning.
The body of the deceased has been deposited at the Dormaa-Ahenkro Presbyterian Hospital but reports say medical personnel at the hospital have refused to perform the autopsy, asking the family of the deceased to go for the body and send it to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
DR GYAN BAFFOUR GOES UNOPPOSED (NSEMPA, PAGE 10)
By Samuel Duodu, Wenchi.
A DEPUTY Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Prof. George Gyan Baffour has been elected unopposed as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary candidate for the Wenchi Constituency in the Brong Ahafo Region for the forthcoming general election.
Prof. Gyan Baffour who is also the sitting NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for Wenchi, was declared unopposed by Mr Samuel Kwaah, the Wenchi Municipal Director of the Electoral Commission (EC) at the constituency delegate conference held at Wenchi over the weekend.
According to Mr Kwaah, Prof Gyan Baffour was the only person who had filed his nominations to contest the Wenchi Parliamentary seat on the NPP ticket as at the close of nomination and therefore had to be declared unopposed.
Addressing the delegates’ conference earlier, Mr Kwasi Adu Gyan, the Brong Ahafo Regional Chairman of the NPP, disclosed that the party right from the national to the polling station level, had put in place effective and vigorous campaign strategies to increase its parliamentary seats from 128 to about 200 in this year’s election.
He stated that the party had therefore increased the polling station executives from five to 15, to embark on a vigorous door to door campaign to ensure that the party retained power and increased its representation in parliament.
Mr Adu Gyan therefore urged the party’s polling station executives to close their ranks and eschew all divisive tendencies and work hard for the retention of power to ensure that the party’s parliamentary candidates won.
He said the Busia-Danquah tradition had its roots from Wenchi because of the late Dr Kofi Abrafi Busia, the Prime Minister of the Second Republic hailed from there and therefore called on members of the party to ensure that the party recorded a higher margin in both the presidential and the parliamentary polls.
Prof Gyan Baffour in his remarks thanked the constituency and polling station executives, for the confidence they had reposed in him by retaining him as the Parliamentary candidate and pledged to work with all, to ensure another victory in the December election.
He stated that the national election in the constituency was not about NPP and NDC, but was about development and non-development as well as the modernity of Wenchi, saying that the NPP within its seven and a half years of rule had brought massive development to the area to restore Wenchi to its past glory as one of the major towns in the Brong Ahafo Region.
He pledged that when elected, he would collaborate with his colleague MPs along the northern corridors of the country, to lobby for the construction of the Wenchi-Bole-Bambio-Wa-Hamile road to be completed, adding that the construction of the road would make Wenchi the gateway to the north-western part of the country.
Dr Gyan Baffour also added that he would also ensure the reconstruction of the Wenchi-Techiman road to further enhance commercial activities in the town.
A DEPUTY Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Prof. George Gyan Baffour has been elected unopposed as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary candidate for the Wenchi Constituency in the Brong Ahafo Region for the forthcoming general election.
Prof. Gyan Baffour who is also the sitting NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for Wenchi, was declared unopposed by Mr Samuel Kwaah, the Wenchi Municipal Director of the Electoral Commission (EC) at the constituency delegate conference held at Wenchi over the weekend.
According to Mr Kwaah, Prof Gyan Baffour was the only person who had filed his nominations to contest the Wenchi Parliamentary seat on the NPP ticket as at the close of nomination and therefore had to be declared unopposed.
Addressing the delegates’ conference earlier, Mr Kwasi Adu Gyan, the Brong Ahafo Regional Chairman of the NPP, disclosed that the party right from the national to the polling station level, had put in place effective and vigorous campaign strategies to increase its parliamentary seats from 128 to about 200 in this year’s election.
He stated that the party had therefore increased the polling station executives from five to 15, to embark on a vigorous door to door campaign to ensure that the party retained power and increased its representation in parliament.
Mr Adu Gyan therefore urged the party’s polling station executives to close their ranks and eschew all divisive tendencies and work hard for the retention of power to ensure that the party’s parliamentary candidates won.
He said the Busia-Danquah tradition had its roots from Wenchi because of the late Dr Kofi Abrafi Busia, the Prime Minister of the Second Republic hailed from there and therefore called on members of the party to ensure that the party recorded a higher margin in both the presidential and the parliamentary polls.
Prof Gyan Baffour in his remarks thanked the constituency and polling station executives, for the confidence they had reposed in him by retaining him as the Parliamentary candidate and pledged to work with all, to ensure another victory in the December election.
He stated that the national election in the constituency was not about NPP and NDC, but was about development and non-development as well as the modernity of Wenchi, saying that the NPP within its seven and a half years of rule had brought massive development to the area to restore Wenchi to its past glory as one of the major towns in the Brong Ahafo Region.
He pledged that when elected, he would collaborate with his colleague MPs along the northern corridors of the country, to lobby for the construction of the Wenchi-Bole-Bambio-Wa-Hamile road to be completed, adding that the construction of the road would make Wenchi the gateway to the north-western part of the country.
Dr Gyan Baffour also added that he would also ensure the reconstruction of the Wenchi-Techiman road to further enhance commercial activities in the town.
FIVE NEW DCEs CONFIRMED IN BA (PAGE 9)
By Samuel Duodu, Sunyani.
FIVE newly appointed Municipal and District Chief Executives (MDCEs) including a female in the Brong Ahafo Region, who have been confirmed by their various assemblies were recently sworn into office by the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah at a brief ceremony held at the residency in Sunyani.
The appointees were Nana Atta Fena and Mr Atta Amponsah for the Wenchi and Dormaa Municipalities, Mr Ankamah Kyeremeh, Mr Boanyah Mensah and Madam Grace Donkor for the Sunyani West, Sene and the Nkoranza North Districts respectively.
Speaking at the swearing in ceremony, Mr Baffour Awuah urged the new appointees, to discharge their duties in a transparent manner with integrity, humility, respect and selflessness.
He reminded them that they were coming into office at the last lap of President Kufuor's two terms in office and therefore they must put in all their best, to move their respective areas of jurisdiction forward.
Mr Baffour Awuah called on the new appointees, not to meddle in chieftaincy matters and to also eschew all divisive tendencies that have the potential to breach the maintenance of law and order in their various municipalities and districts.
He stated that they as the heads of the municipal and district security councils must always be on top of security issues and expressed the hope that they would be opened to all shades of opinions that would help speed up the development of their areas.
Nana Atta Fena, the Municipal Chief Executive for Wenchi on behalf of his colleagues, thanked the President for nominating them and the assembly members for their endorsement.
He pledged that they would work assiduously to move their areas forward in order to justify the confidence reposed in them by the President and the assembly members to serve the people.
FIVE newly appointed Municipal and District Chief Executives (MDCEs) including a female in the Brong Ahafo Region, who have been confirmed by their various assemblies were recently sworn into office by the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah at a brief ceremony held at the residency in Sunyani.
The appointees were Nana Atta Fena and Mr Atta Amponsah for the Wenchi and Dormaa Municipalities, Mr Ankamah Kyeremeh, Mr Boanyah Mensah and Madam Grace Donkor for the Sunyani West, Sene and the Nkoranza North Districts respectively.
Speaking at the swearing in ceremony, Mr Baffour Awuah urged the new appointees, to discharge their duties in a transparent manner with integrity, humility, respect and selflessness.
He reminded them that they were coming into office at the last lap of President Kufuor's two terms in office and therefore they must put in all their best, to move their respective areas of jurisdiction forward.
Mr Baffour Awuah called on the new appointees, not to meddle in chieftaincy matters and to also eschew all divisive tendencies that have the potential to breach the maintenance of law and order in their various municipalities and districts.
He stated that they as the heads of the municipal and district security councils must always be on top of security issues and expressed the hope that they would be opened to all shades of opinions that would help speed up the development of their areas.
Nana Atta Fena, the Municipal Chief Executive for Wenchi on behalf of his colleagues, thanked the President for nominating them and the assembly members for their endorsement.
He pledged that they would work assiduously to move their areas forward in order to justify the confidence reposed in them by the President and the assembly members to serve the people.
ASUTIFI PEOPLE GRATEFUL TO GOVT ...For Sunyani-Acheresua Road (PAGE 40)
From Samuel Duodu, Kenyase No. 1
THE chiefs and people in the Asutifi District of the Brong Ahafo Region have commended the government for reconstructing the Acherensua-Ntotroso-Sunyani trunk road.
According to them, the repair of the road had reduced the number of hours used in travelling from Sunyani to Acherensua, that is from three hours to only 45 minutes.
The Omanhene of Kenyasi No 1 Traditional Area, Nana Kofi Osei Abiri, made the commendation at a durbar of the chiefs and people of the various traditional areas in the district in honour of the Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture, Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo at Kenyasi No 1 .
The other paramount chiefs who attended the colourful durbar, were Agyewodin (Prof) Adu Gyamfi Ampem, the Omanhene of Acherensua, Odeneho Kwabena Nsiah Ababio, the Omanhene of Kenyasi No 2, Nana Twereko Ampem, the Ntotrosohene, Nana Atta Mensah, Dadiesoabahene and a representative of the Hwidiemhene, Nana Twie Baffour, the Akwamuhene of Kenyasi.
On behalf of the chiefs, Nana Abiri appealed to the minister to increase the allowances paid to Nananom and also improve the conditions of service of the staff of the chieftaincy secretariat posted to all traditional councils in the country.
He urged Mr Boafo to ensure that the provision under which chiefs were consulted in the appointment of people to the district assemblies, was maintained.
Nana Abiri implored him to use his good office to ensure that Kenyasi being the district capital was given a facelift.
He specifically mentioned the rehabilitation of the town roads and extension of the telecommunication services to the town.
The chief also stressed the need for the government to rehabilitate two bridges over the Tano River on the Sunyani-Acherensua and the Kenyasi-Hwidiem roads.
Nana Abiri urged the minister to ignore chieftaincy contractors in the area, who were fond of writing unnecessary letters to tarnish the image of some personalities within the district.
In his response, Mr Boafo assured the chiefs and people that their concerns would be looked at and addressed appropriately by the government.
He appealed to people fomenting chieftaincy disputes to desist from such negative acts since they retarded the socio-economic development of the area.
Mr Boafo announced that he was in the region to identify the problems confronting chiefs and other traditional rulers in the region as well as workers of his ministry.
He noted that the chieftaincy institution was very relevant that was why the Kufuor administration had set up the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture.
Mr Boafo’s tour took him to the Techiman, Dormaa, Berekum and Nkoranza municipalities, as well as Tano North, Tano South and Jaman South districts, where the chiefs and people held similar durbars in his honour.
Currently, there are about 54 chieftaincy disputes pending before the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs.
Although the Regional House of Chiefs now has a counsel, members of the judicial committee of the house have failed to attend meetings resulting in delay in the settlement of the disputes.
THE chiefs and people in the Asutifi District of the Brong Ahafo Region have commended the government for reconstructing the Acherensua-Ntotroso-Sunyani trunk road.
According to them, the repair of the road had reduced the number of hours used in travelling from Sunyani to Acherensua, that is from three hours to only 45 minutes.
The Omanhene of Kenyasi No 1 Traditional Area, Nana Kofi Osei Abiri, made the commendation at a durbar of the chiefs and people of the various traditional areas in the district in honour of the Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture, Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo at Kenyasi No 1 .
The other paramount chiefs who attended the colourful durbar, were Agyewodin (Prof) Adu Gyamfi Ampem, the Omanhene of Acherensua, Odeneho Kwabena Nsiah Ababio, the Omanhene of Kenyasi No 2, Nana Twereko Ampem, the Ntotrosohene, Nana Atta Mensah, Dadiesoabahene and a representative of the Hwidiemhene, Nana Twie Baffour, the Akwamuhene of Kenyasi.
On behalf of the chiefs, Nana Abiri appealed to the minister to increase the allowances paid to Nananom and also improve the conditions of service of the staff of the chieftaincy secretariat posted to all traditional councils in the country.
He urged Mr Boafo to ensure that the provision under which chiefs were consulted in the appointment of people to the district assemblies, was maintained.
Nana Abiri implored him to use his good office to ensure that Kenyasi being the district capital was given a facelift.
He specifically mentioned the rehabilitation of the town roads and extension of the telecommunication services to the town.
The chief also stressed the need for the government to rehabilitate two bridges over the Tano River on the Sunyani-Acherensua and the Kenyasi-Hwidiem roads.
Nana Abiri urged the minister to ignore chieftaincy contractors in the area, who were fond of writing unnecessary letters to tarnish the image of some personalities within the district.
In his response, Mr Boafo assured the chiefs and people that their concerns would be looked at and addressed appropriately by the government.
He appealed to people fomenting chieftaincy disputes to desist from such negative acts since they retarded the socio-economic development of the area.
Mr Boafo announced that he was in the region to identify the problems confronting chiefs and other traditional rulers in the region as well as workers of his ministry.
He noted that the chieftaincy institution was very relevant that was why the Kufuor administration had set up the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture.
Mr Boafo’s tour took him to the Techiman, Dormaa, Berekum and Nkoranza municipalities, as well as Tano North, Tano South and Jaman South districts, where the chiefs and people held similar durbars in his honour.
Currently, there are about 54 chieftaincy disputes pending before the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs.
Although the Regional House of Chiefs now has a counsel, members of the judicial committee of the house have failed to attend meetings resulting in delay in the settlement of the disputes.
GOVT TO PAY COMPENSATION TO TRADITIONAL COUNCILS (PAGE 40)
Story: Samuel Duodu, Sunyani
THE government has set up a machinery under which traditional councils whose stool lands have been acquired will be paid the requisite compensation.
In this regard, some traditional councils have lodged their documents with the Ministry for Chieftaincy and Culture for the payment of compensation.
The sector Minister, Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, who disclosed this, urged others who had not presented their documents to do so.
He was responding to an appeal by the Sunyanihene, Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri II, when the minister called on him at his palace in Sunyani as part of the his week-long tour of the Brong Ahafo Region.
Nana Bosoma had complained that most of the stool lands belonging to the traditional council had been vested in the government, while no compensation had been paid for those that had been acquired.
He also requested that some of the vested lands which were not in use should be returned to the traditional council, since it was from those lands that the chiefs also got some funds to run their activities and programmes.
Mr Boafo stated that his visit was to learn at firsthand the problems that confronted the chiefs and how best they could be resolved and gave the assurance that the issues raised would be taken on board for discussion.
The minister added that the chieftaincy institution was still relevant for the socio-economic development of the country, hence the government’s decision in setting up a ministry for the institution to make it play a more effective role in nation building.
He said since the ministry came into being, it had been able to provide some logistics, such as four-wheel-drive vehicles, for all the regional houses of chiefs to facilitate their administration.
Mr Boafo added that there was a Chieftaincy Bill in the offing in which the issue of capacity building for both chiefs and staff of the Chieftaincy Secretariat and the traditional council registries would be addressed, saying the ministry was also working hard to ensure that the registries were provided with at least a computer each to enhance their filing systems.
He disclosed further that the working conditions and remuneration of staff of the Chieftaincy Secretariat would also be looked at in order to attract and retain high calibre personnel to enhance the institution in the country.
He reiterated the call on various traditional councils in the country to codify their succession to take away the numerous disputes that had bedevilled the institution in recent times.
Mr Boafo and his entourage later inspected the ongoing GH¢520,000 modern palace complex for the Sunyani Traditional Council in Sunyani.
Earlier in the day, he had called on the Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Kwame Twumasi-Awuah, in his office.
THE government has set up a machinery under which traditional councils whose stool lands have been acquired will be paid the requisite compensation.
In this regard, some traditional councils have lodged their documents with the Ministry for Chieftaincy and Culture for the payment of compensation.
The sector Minister, Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, who disclosed this, urged others who had not presented their documents to do so.
He was responding to an appeal by the Sunyanihene, Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri II, when the minister called on him at his palace in Sunyani as part of the his week-long tour of the Brong Ahafo Region.
Nana Bosoma had complained that most of the stool lands belonging to the traditional council had been vested in the government, while no compensation had been paid for those that had been acquired.
He also requested that some of the vested lands which were not in use should be returned to the traditional council, since it was from those lands that the chiefs also got some funds to run their activities and programmes.
Mr Boafo stated that his visit was to learn at firsthand the problems that confronted the chiefs and how best they could be resolved and gave the assurance that the issues raised would be taken on board for discussion.
The minister added that the chieftaincy institution was still relevant for the socio-economic development of the country, hence the government’s decision in setting up a ministry for the institution to make it play a more effective role in nation building.
He said since the ministry came into being, it had been able to provide some logistics, such as four-wheel-drive vehicles, for all the regional houses of chiefs to facilitate their administration.
Mr Boafo added that there was a Chieftaincy Bill in the offing in which the issue of capacity building for both chiefs and staff of the Chieftaincy Secretariat and the traditional council registries would be addressed, saying the ministry was also working hard to ensure that the registries were provided with at least a computer each to enhance their filing systems.
He disclosed further that the working conditions and remuneration of staff of the Chieftaincy Secretariat would also be looked at in order to attract and retain high calibre personnel to enhance the institution in the country.
He reiterated the call on various traditional councils in the country to codify their succession to take away the numerous disputes that had bedevilled the institution in recent times.
Mr Boafo and his entourage later inspected the ongoing GH¢520,000 modern palace complex for the Sunyani Traditional Council in Sunyani.
Earlier in the day, he had called on the Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Kwame Twumasi-Awuah, in his office.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
BEREKUM MCE APPEALS TO ASPIRING MP (PAGE 13)
Story: Samuel Duodu, Berekum
THE Berekum Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Kwabena Kyere-Yeboah, has appealed to the seven people vying to contest the parliamentary election in the Berekum Constituency on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to impress upon their supporters to desist from acts that can spark off violence and break the front of the party.
According to him, the aspirants needed to educate their supporters to conduct their campaigns with decorum in order for the party to maintain a united front in the constituency before, during and after the primary to select a candidate.
The MCE also urged supporters of the various aspirants to desist from defacing the posters of their opponents, since that behaviour did not promote party unity and could lead to chaos and confusion in the municipality.
Mr Kyere-Yeboah, who made the appeal at a meeting held at his instance in Berekum in the Brong Ahafo Region and attended by members of the security agencies, the media and the aspirants, called on the aspirants to also engage in issue-based campaigns devoid of acrimony and insults in order not to divide the party and undermine its fortunes at the polls and also lead to a breach of law and order in the area.
The seven aspirants, who have all been vetted and were present at the meeting are Dr Kwabena Twum-Nuamah, a medical practitioner; Dr Kodjo Opoku-Adomah, a veterinary surgeon; Mr Francis Manu-Gyan, the Volta Regional Administrative Officer of the GBC; Prof Daniel Obeng-Ofori, a lecturer at the University of Ghana, Legon; and Nana Adu-Gyamfi Kumaning, a retired diplomat.
The rest are Capt Nkrabeah Effah-Dartey (Retd), the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) and Mr Kwaku Agyenim-Boateng, a legal services consultant.
Berekum has always been one of the constituencies in the region where the NPP primary has been hotly contested.
Mr Kyere-Yeboah stated that the aftermath of the primary must be peaceful and, therefore, urged the aspirants to say things that would unite the party, saying that at the end of the day, one person would emerge the winner and all must unite to ensure the success of the party at the polls.
The Constituency Chairman, Mr Kwaku Kankam, for his part, called on the aspirants to abide by the rules and regulations of the party and campaign based on issues, rather than mudslinging and insults, which had the potential to affect the fortunes of the party.
He disclosed that it was only the delegates, aspirants and their observers, who would be allowed into the main hall during the delegates conference, to prevent any confusion and chaos.
The aspirants, for their part, called for a level playing field for all and also urged the constituency executives to maintain their neutrality, since anything short of that could mar the primary.
They also pledged to conduct their campaigns devoid of insults.
THE Berekum Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Kwabena Kyere-Yeboah, has appealed to the seven people vying to contest the parliamentary election in the Berekum Constituency on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to impress upon their supporters to desist from acts that can spark off violence and break the front of the party.
According to him, the aspirants needed to educate their supporters to conduct their campaigns with decorum in order for the party to maintain a united front in the constituency before, during and after the primary to select a candidate.
The MCE also urged supporters of the various aspirants to desist from defacing the posters of their opponents, since that behaviour did not promote party unity and could lead to chaos and confusion in the municipality.
Mr Kyere-Yeboah, who made the appeal at a meeting held at his instance in Berekum in the Brong Ahafo Region and attended by members of the security agencies, the media and the aspirants, called on the aspirants to also engage in issue-based campaigns devoid of acrimony and insults in order not to divide the party and undermine its fortunes at the polls and also lead to a breach of law and order in the area.
The seven aspirants, who have all been vetted and were present at the meeting are Dr Kwabena Twum-Nuamah, a medical practitioner; Dr Kodjo Opoku-Adomah, a veterinary surgeon; Mr Francis Manu-Gyan, the Volta Regional Administrative Officer of the GBC; Prof Daniel Obeng-Ofori, a lecturer at the University of Ghana, Legon; and Nana Adu-Gyamfi Kumaning, a retired diplomat.
The rest are Capt Nkrabeah Effah-Dartey (Retd), the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) and Mr Kwaku Agyenim-Boateng, a legal services consultant.
Berekum has always been one of the constituencies in the region where the NPP primary has been hotly contested.
Mr Kyere-Yeboah stated that the aftermath of the primary must be peaceful and, therefore, urged the aspirants to say things that would unite the party, saying that at the end of the day, one person would emerge the winner and all must unite to ensure the success of the party at the polls.
The Constituency Chairman, Mr Kwaku Kankam, for his part, called on the aspirants to abide by the rules and regulations of the party and campaign based on issues, rather than mudslinging and insults, which had the potential to affect the fortunes of the party.
He disclosed that it was only the delegates, aspirants and their observers, who would be allowed into the main hall during the delegates conference, to prevent any confusion and chaos.
The aspirants, for their part, called for a level playing field for all and also urged the constituency executives to maintain their neutrality, since anything short of that could mar the primary.
They also pledged to conduct their campaigns devoid of insults.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Traditional council reintroduces puberty rites
Story: Samuel Duodu, Dwayaw Nkwanta
Marc 31
Queens in the Duayaw Nkwanta Traditional Area of the Tano North District of the Brong Ahafo Region have reintroduced puberty rites to prevent young girls in the area from contracting sexually transmitted diseases and teenage pregnancy.
Three girls aged between 18 and 19 who have undergone the traditional rites at Duayaw Nkwanta have been presented with GH¢800. While one received GH¢400, the other two received GH¢200 each from the district assembly.
The assembly presented the money to the girls in fulfilment of a pledge made to them during an initiation ceremony recently.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Mr Nicholas Lenin Anane Agyei, the Tano North District Chief Executive (DCE), commended the queens for re-instituting a very good cultural practice that made the girls keep their virginity till they marry, adding that the tradition had been abandoned in the area a long time ago.
He expressed his gratitude to the parents of the girls and the girls themselves for availing themselves and going through the rites, which would go a long way to make them role models to their peers in their various communities.
He called on the queen of Duayaw Nkwanta and her elders to put in place an effective monitoring system at every stage to ensure that the girls lived up to expectation.
Mr Anane Agyei charged the girls to also strive hard to live above all reproach in order not to bring disgrace to the traditional council, the assembly, their communities and family once they had undergone the rites.
He further pledged that the assembly would give scholarship to the two girls at the junior high school level to enable them go through the senior high school (SHS), while it would also assist the SHS student to pursue tertiary education.
Nana Birago, for her part, said she and her elders re-instituted the ‘Bragro’ (puberty rites) to help minimise the incidence of teenage pregnancy and prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS among girls in the area.
She said puberty rites were cultural practices that was observed in the area some 30 years ago, but were stopped leading to immoral behaviours among the youth, especially girls in the area.
Nana Birago was optimistic that the traditional rites would encourage the girls to lead decent lives and abstain from pre-marital sex and other anti-social practices.
She thanked the assembly for its immense support to the programme and added that once a girl started menstruation and the queens were informed the girls would be monitored till they attained the age of 18 before they could undergo the rites.
Marc 31
Queens in the Duayaw Nkwanta Traditional Area of the Tano North District of the Brong Ahafo Region have reintroduced puberty rites to prevent young girls in the area from contracting sexually transmitted diseases and teenage pregnancy.
Three girls aged between 18 and 19 who have undergone the traditional rites at Duayaw Nkwanta have been presented with GH¢800. While one received GH¢400, the other two received GH¢200 each from the district assembly.
The assembly presented the money to the girls in fulfilment of a pledge made to them during an initiation ceremony recently.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Mr Nicholas Lenin Anane Agyei, the Tano North District Chief Executive (DCE), commended the queens for re-instituting a very good cultural practice that made the girls keep their virginity till they marry, adding that the tradition had been abandoned in the area a long time ago.
He expressed his gratitude to the parents of the girls and the girls themselves for availing themselves and going through the rites, which would go a long way to make them role models to their peers in their various communities.
He called on the queen of Duayaw Nkwanta and her elders to put in place an effective monitoring system at every stage to ensure that the girls lived up to expectation.
Mr Anane Agyei charged the girls to also strive hard to live above all reproach in order not to bring disgrace to the traditional council, the assembly, their communities and family once they had undergone the rites.
He further pledged that the assembly would give scholarship to the two girls at the junior high school level to enable them go through the senior high school (SHS), while it would also assist the SHS student to pursue tertiary education.
Nana Birago, for her part, said she and her elders re-instituted the ‘Bragro’ (puberty rites) to help minimise the incidence of teenage pregnancy and prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS among girls in the area.
She said puberty rites were cultural practices that was observed in the area some 30 years ago, but were stopped leading to immoral behaviours among the youth, especially girls in the area.
Nana Birago was optimistic that the traditional rites would encourage the girls to lead decent lives and abstain from pre-marital sex and other anti-social practices.
She thanked the assembly for its immense support to the programme and added that once a girl started menstruation and the queens were informed the girls would be monitored till they attained the age of 18 before they could undergo the rites.
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