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Akwamuman celebrates 60-year reign of Nana Afrakoma II

An illustrious 60-year reign of Nana Afrakoma II as the Queen mother of Akwamu­man was over the weekend marked with a grand durbar held at the forecourt of Bog­yawe Palace, Akwamufie in the Eastern Region.

The durbar was also to climax the celebration of the Akwasi­dae Kese of the people in the Akwamu Traditional Area.

•President Kuffour interacts with Nana
Agyeman Rawlings at the durbar
•President Kuffour interacts with Nana Agyeman Rawlings at the durbar

In a colourful event, the durbar which featured the dis­play of the rich culture attract­ed people from far and near.

Among them were the Pres­ident, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, former President, Mr John Agyekum Kufuor, the former First Lady, Nana Kona­du Agyeman Rawlings and her children, the Member of Par­liament (MP) of Asuogyaman Constituency, Mr Thomas Apem Nyarko, and a representative from the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.

Others include the Dormaa­hene, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, represent­ing the Aduana fraternity, the Otublohum Asafo groups, traditional rulers across the country, and the local council of churches.

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President of the Republic of Ghana being honoured by one of the chiefs
President of the Republic of Ghana being honoured by one of the chiefs

Preceding the durbar on Sat­urday, were activities such as a health walk, live band per­formances featuring musicians such as Kwabena Kwabena and Akwaboah.

•Some chiefs were also present to
grace the occassion
•Some chiefs were also present to grace the occassion

Addressing the gathering at the durbar, Nana Afrakoma II thanked the people of Akwamu, traditional rulers, and other dignitaries in the country for the support given her during her 60-year reign as the Queen mother of Akwamuman.

She advised the youth to accord the elderly the needed respect in order to obtain the blessings from God and remain humble.

Also, long serving staff, chiefs, and other individuals were honoured with various citations and awards by the Queen mother.

Nana Afrakoma II sitting in state at the durbar
Nana Afrakoma II sitting in state at the durbar

For his part, the Ak­wamuhene, Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III, lauded Nana Afrakoma II for the exemplary leadership shown since her enthronement as queen mother at the age of 18 years.

He noted that initiatives by Nana Afrakoma II such as the Afrakoma Foundation and the Nana Afrakoma Vocational Insti­tute had contributed to shaping the life of the youth and had helped tackle issues such as teenage pregnancy and school dropout.

Some friends exchanging pleasantries with Nana Afrakoma II
Some friends exchanging pleasantries with Nana Afrakoma II

Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III, therefore, urged the President to support the Nana Afrakoma Vocational Institute to enable it to provide the youth with the needed training and equip them with the requisite skills.

He also called on the Presi­dent to revive Akosombo Tex­tiles Limited (ATL), the compa­ny that provided employment for the youth.

President Nana Akufo-Addo supported the durbar with an amount of GH¢100,000 and box­es of Black Label, Hennessey, red wine and champagne.

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 Benjamin Arcton -Tettey

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Involve men in breast cancer conversations …Breast cancer advocate

Raisa

Raisa

 A Journalist and breast cancer advocate, Ms Raissa Sambou, has called for the inclusion of men in breast cancer conversations.

She said men play a crucial role in breast cancer conversations, not only because they can be affected by the disease themselves but also because they can help their partners detect early signs.

The inclusion of men in the conversation has dominated discussion on the disease during an ongoing door-to-door campaign to raise awareness on breast cancer in rural communities, focusing on both men and women who often lack access to healthcare information and treatment.

Ms Sambou, a breast cancer survivor, told The Spectator that her campaign aims to educate people in an underserved areas on early detection and prevention.

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Ms Sambou interacting with some  fishermen in Tomefa
Ms Sambou interacting with some fishermen in Tomefa

According to Ms Sambou, by encouraging and reminding women to perform regular self-breast examinations, men can support early detection, which is key to successful treatment.

“Unfortunately, there have been instances where men have distanced themselves from their wives or engaged in infidelity following breast cancer treatments, particularly when it involves the loss of a breast.

“Through education, these situations can be minimised, as men learn to be more empathetic and supportive, understanding the physical and emotional toll the disease takes on their partners,” she explained.

Educating men on these issues fosters stronger familial bonds and helps reduce stigma and misconceptions surrounding breast cancer.

“Men should not be excluded from breast cancer conversations because they can also be affected by the disease,” she said.

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Additionally, she noted that when a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, the entire family is impacted, hence the need for men to be educated on how they can provide emotional and practical support during such difficult times.

Through her initiative, dubbed ‘The Raissa Child Protection Initiative,’ the award winning journalist advocates for the wellbeing of children by empowering their parents to take better care of them.

“If parents are not healthy, they cannot care for their children,” she noted, stressing the importance of health in child protection efforts.

She revealed that the campaign, which began in Tomefa, a fishing community in the Ga South Municipality, also seeks to dispel the misconceptions surrounding breast cancer in rural areas, where fear and stigma often prevent early treatment.

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Ms Sambou states that the initiative was to expand to parts of the Eastern and Central regions, with the goal of improving awareness and saving lives in areas where access to healthcare is limited.

She also underscored the importance of adopting a preventive approach to managing chronic health issues, especially given the limited resources at many healthcare facilities in Ghana.

She also expressed concern that rural residents often have to travel long distances across regions to access basic medical services like mammograms and CT scans.

This, Ms Sambou noted, contributes to the high number of undiagnosed cancers and late-stage diagnoses, which severely impact treatment outcomes.

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She further lamented that even in cases of early detection, the lack of adequate cancer treatment equipment in the country often hampers patient survival.

At the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, the nation’s largest referral centre, she explained that only two radiotherapy machines serve hundreds of patients, forcing many to wait for months before receiving treatment.

“My campaign is not only focused on awareness but also on advocacy for improved healthcare infrastructure, especially in rural communities, to ensure that early detection leads to timely and effective treatment,” she added.

By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu

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Women urged to pursue dreams with determination at ‘She Triumph Conference 2024’

• Participants at the conference. (Inset) Ms Ibrahim.

Ms Ibrahim.

 Young women have been urged to pursue their dreams with determina­tion and self-awareness at the second edition of ‘She Tri­umph Conference 2024’.

The conference which was held in Accra last Saturday on the theme: “Resilience and determination of wom­anhood,” featured keynote speakers from various fields, including business, arts and science.

Participants at the conference.

Participants at the conference.

The speakers urged the over 650 young women present at the conference to showcase their unique talents while ad­vocating for women’s empow­erment.

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The Marketing Manager of Electroland Ghana Limited, Hajia Adiza Ibrahim, urged young women not to feel pres­sured by societal expectations but instead focus on self-dis­covery.

“Identify who you are and what you possess; it’s not a competition, but you want to be recognised for your individ­uality,” she said.

Drawing from her person­al journey, she highlighted the importance of building a personal brand ground­ed in authenticity and hard work, saying, “I have built my reputation with truth and passion.”

The Chief Executive Offi­cer(CEO) of Kuburah Diamonds Foundation acknowledged the challenges women face in to­day’s fast-paced, competitive world, urging attendees to cultivate their own identities and strive for ex­cellence.

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Ms Ibrahim, popularly known as ‘Kuburah Diamond’, stressed the need to prove oneself in various spheres, whether in academia or pro­fessional environments, urging them to exceed expectations when given the opportunity.

According to the founder of ‘She Triumph Conference’, Mrs Deborah Borketey-Tackie, the event was to train young women to gain skills to enable them become entrepreneurs and create employment op­portunities for the youth.

These skills, she said included photography, beading, wig making, makeup artistry, balloon decoration and baking among others.

She indicated that 18 students who were trained in these skills had graduated and awarded at the conference.

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Mrs Borketey-Tackie said the first and second run­ner-ups received GH¢10,000 and GH¢5,000 respectively from Omanye Royals Kingdom based in Canada.

By Cecilia Lagba Yada

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