Day: June 18, 2023

Mr Isaac siaw Asamoah, a Detective Chief Inspector of the Ghana Police Service has been installed the new chief of Agona Asafo.

With a Stool name as Nana Nyamfo Asuako XII, he v succeeded Nana Nyamfo Asuako XI, known in private life as Mr Atta Peter who abdicated the stool for personal reasons about five years ago.

The planned outdooring and installation of the new chief was earlier on suspended due to a court injunction, but the case was dismissed by Agona Swedru High Court.

Carried in a palanquin through the principal streets of Agona Asafo amidst jubilations, the new Chief swore an oath of allegiance to the Twidan Royal family, the Asafo company members, and the Oman (state).

Similarly, Nana Kobena Arkoh, Head of Twidan Royal family also sworn before Nana Nyamfo Asuako, and the state of Agona Asafo, and rallied the support of all the people.

Addressing the gathering, Nana Nyamfo Asuako assured that he would re-introduce old traditions and cultural values that would foster development and shape the lives of the youth.

Nana Nyamfo Asuako who is also Niifahene of Agona Nyakrom Traditional Area said Asafo was one of the oldest towns in the area, but it had no community centre and therefore, pledged to mobilize resources to build an ultra-modern one to hold all events including funerals.

On education, Nana Nyamfo Asuako pledged to institute an educational fund to support the needy but brilliant students.

An annual mock examination would be conducted for all final year Junior HIGH School (JHS) students in the private and public schools in the town to improve their studies to obtain better grades.

Nana Nyamfo Asuako pledged to collaborate with chiefs and other stakeholders to create a weekly market at Agona Asafo to enable farmers to send their produce there to sell.

He said that would help curtail travelling to Agona Swedru, Awutu Bawjiase and other market centres to sell their farm produce, to help boost the local economy and aid quality living standards of the people.

On security, the new chief said plans had been completed for Ghana Post to convert its old building into Police Post to help reduce the crime in the town.

He cautioned the youth against drug abuse, saying perpetrators would face the law.

The new chief said he would reintroduce communal labour popularly known as (aman dwuma) to tidy the town to avoid the outbreak of communicable diseases.

Nana Arkoh pledged to rally support for the newly installed chief of Agona Asafo to promote peace and development.

He called on the inhabitants of the area to assist the new chief and endeavor to contribute to their quota to improve its socio-economic growth.

Nana Kwesi Amanfo , Gyasehene of Agona Asafo on behalf of the people, pledged to support the new chief to ensure rapid development.

He said the town had been without Odikro for about five years, but now that a new chief had been installed all hands should be on deck to fast-track development to help Asafo to become one of the best places to live.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Reverend Dr Ebenezer Tetteh Akpallam, a lecturer at the Pentecost University says child rights are not foreign culture, but they are rights to offer protect ultimate protection for children, their survival, and their development.

‘Child Rights sit on four principles which finds expression across all religion, Non-Discrimination, the best Interest of the Child, The Right to Life, Survival and Development and Respect for the views of the child, whiles children in return also have responsibilities to obey rules and do as expect of them.’

Rev. Akpallam explained this in a presentation during an engagement with Religious and Traditional leaders and other stakeholders on Child Protection seminar in Koforidua.

The paramount interest of a child’s development to become an asset to society is upheld by all the religions whether Christianity, Islamic or traditional and therefore it was not appropriate to describe child rights as a foreign culture.

‘The problem is about the interpretation especially using the scripture to abuse children, so, the sensitisation of guiding and teaching children without inflicting pain appears to be contrary to those interpretations.’

According to Rev Dr Akpallam, the frequent use of the scripture- Proverbs 13:24 – ‘spare the rod and spoil the child’, had been wrongly interpreted to abuse children.

‘The rod and staff represent authority of parents or the elderly to teach and guide children and it’s not about beating.’

Whiles agreeing that as part of teaching children, correction could not be ruled out, he explained that it was important to use alternative punishments other than abuse to ensure that violence, hatred, and pain were not inflicted on children all in the name of training.

The two-day workshop was organised by the Department of Children under the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to sensitise participants as part of broader stakeholder engagements to deepen community child protection roles as well as promote the Ghanaian Against Child Abuse (GACA) social drive.

Participants included Church leaders and pastors, queens, chiefs, community and opinion leaders from Islamic communities, media practitioners and other stakeholders.

Mr Christopher Lartey, Principal Programmes officer, Department of Children added that the rights of children were basic needs for their growth and development and could not constitute any breed of indiscipline among children or the youth.

‘It cannot be true that child rights are leading children astray, rather it’s the abuse of children in the name of correction or punishment over a long period of time which has made violence and abuse seem acceptable in society.’

He said it was unfortunate that many had criticised the rights of children to protection, survival and from non-discrimination creating the impression that child rights were foreign culture adding ‘child rights are basic needs for every child anywhere.’

Madam Latifa Abobo Siddique, Eastern Regional Director of the Department of Children on her part said every stakeholder including religious and traditional leaders had a stake in child protection.

She also appealed to the participants especially the religious and traditional leaders to desist from intervening or interfering in criminal matters involving children such as assault and defilement to allow the law to take its due course.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Black Stars of Ghana were held to a goalless draw by the Barea of Madagascar in the penultimate Group E match of the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

The Black Stars couldn’t secure all three points at Mahamasina Stadium in Antananarivo, as their 24th qualification to the AFCON would be determined in the last round of matches.

Ghana still leads the group with nine points, followed by Angola with eight points, while the Central African Republic have seven points.

Madagascar has no chance of qualification as they are bottom with two points.

Black Stars coach Chris Hughton made a surprise exclusion from the starting line-up, benching Mohammed Kudus while Dede Ayew made it back to the starting line-up.

With left back Gideon Mensah missing out through injury, Patrick Kpozo made his first start for the Black Stars.

The Black Stars were very decent on the field in the opening quarter of the game but struggled to break the strong Madagascar defence.

Sulemana Kamaldeen had Ghana’s first opportunity halfway through the first half, but his curled effort went wide off the post.

The confidence of the home side grew as the match progressed, and they nearly took the lead in the 35th minute, but Betrand’s effort went off target.

Ghana’s first shot on target came in the 56th minute after Partey’s 30-yard free-kick was saved by Madagascar goalkeeper Razakanirina.

It was a fairly balanced second half, with Madagascar looking more dangerous on the counter-attack as the Black Stars lived dangerously.

Mohammed Kudus made a late cameo in the game to salvage all three points, but the Madagascar side held their lines and prevented the Black Stars from scoring at the end of regulation time.

The last group match would see Ghana take on the Central African Republic, while Madagascar would take on already eliminated Madagascar.

Black Stars Starting XI: Lawrence Ati-Zigi (GK), Dennis Odoi, Patrick Kpozo, Daniel Amartey, Joseph Aidoo, Salis Samed, Thomas Partey, Kamaldeen Sulemana (Ernest Nuamah, 61mins), Joseph Paintil (Osman Bukari, 73mins), Jordan Ayew (Mohammed Kudus, 80mins) Dede Ayew

Source: Ghana News Agency

Seychelles celebrated the 30th anniversary of its constitution in a customary flag-raising ceremony held at the ‘Lavwa Lanasyon’ monument in the capital of Victoria on Sunday, June 18.

The event commemorates the day the Constitution of the Third Republic of Seychelles was adopted by the Seychellois nation. On June 18, 1993, the island nation took a new direction guided by fundamental principles that are essential for its development as a sovereign and democratic state.

The Constitution Day ceremony included reading extracts from the constitution and musical performances by the youths.

The flag-raising ceremony was attended by the President of Seychelles, Wavel Ramkalawan, Vice President Ahmed Afif, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Roger Mancienne, the Chief Justice, Rony Govinden and other high level government officials and members of the diplomatic corps.

After the ceremony on Mahe, flag raising will also be done on Praslin and La Digue, the second and third most populated islands of Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean.

In his message for the day, President Wavel Ramkalawan said, “This celebration should push us to reflect on the long and difficult road full of challenges that we have crossed to get where we are today. For us to reinforce this road of democracy, it is important that we keep pushing to reinforce transparency and good governance every day in our country.”

He said that Seychelles has come a long way since 1993 and that “we should not stop persevering to do better and make more accomplishments for the generation of today and that of the future.”

“Today, every one has their place in our beautiful country. Every one can develop their potential and achieve their dreams if they are determined and hard working,” he added.

Ramkalawan concluded by saying “On this 30th anniversary of our constitution, I renew my engagement and appeal to all Seychellois to respect and protect our constitution at all times.”

Source: Seychelles News Agency

At least 14 persons are said to have been summarily executed by government forces in Big Babnki village in the North West region, an informant has noted, adding that they are progressively interred.

“These guys were just suspected to be working with amba boys ( Cameroon separatists) since the presence of government forces all the amba boys disappeared,” someone updating CNA on the incident noted.

On Friday, June 16, 2023, government forces on the invitation of the traditional leader of the village, invaded the area, going after people suspected of working with separatists. But pictures shared of the victims, sent a narrative that the victims were separatists.

Some of the victims had Dane guns placed on them after the carnage.

The village is still in shock and consternation as more corpses are being discovered in the bushes. Some of the victims identified by a CNA informant are; popular bike riders called Promise and Ezekiel.

The quarter head of Mughu, Tih Emmanuel,( in traditional attire) was also killed, and the Kingmaker, Viyof, who lived in the Chubali quarter, was arrested and later found dead.

There is an exodus in the village as many fear they may be the next targets, “there is a massive migration of youths from the village because everyone is worried they don’t know who is next,” a source said.

On Monday, June 12, 2023, one person was shot dead by the Cameroon military, and his house was set on fire. This was the first gunshot heard in the village since the invitation.

The traditional ruler of Big Babanki, also known as Kedjom Keku, said the reason for inviting the government forces and pleading for the creation of a military post, is because the activities of the separatists have caused untold suffering.

Source: Cameroon News Agency