News
Confusion in Berekum as Traditional Council enforces century old taboo
A decision by the Berekum Traditional Council (BTC) in the Bono Region to enforce a century old taboo that forbids the rearing of goats in Berekum has sparked confusion among citizens of the area.
The move by the Council, The Spectator gathered was to appease a river god (Asuokoraa) in the area which is said to be angry with the traditional authorities for allowing the taboo to be defied.
The issue has since gone viral on social media, attracting varying views and concerns.
In December 2023, the traditional council announced the enforcement of the taboo which led to the killing of many stray goats before and during the performance of the funeral and burial rites of the late Omanhene of Berekum Traditional Area, Daasebre Amankona Diawuo ll.
Nana Badu Kaakyire, Twafohene of the BTC, who confirmed this to The Spectator said the move was to avert any imminent calamity in the area.
He said the council was serious about the directive and would not spare anyone that flout it.
According to him, the river god was indeed angry with Nananom who were given the directive after consulting it.
He said, as a result, the queen of Berekum has been directed not to visit any community with goats.
The Council’s decision has compelled small holder farmers that engages in the rearing of goats in the Berekum area to close their farms.
One such entity is the Semanhyia Learning and Development Farms, a livestock breeding facility based at Senaase in Berekum.
According to the Chief Executive of the Farms, Mr Frederick Benneh Frimpong, this decision to evacuate about 200 goats made up of exotic and local breeds within two weeks has put him in a fix.
He explained that despite the existence of the taboo, it was not exactly adhered to until the recent development.
He said it was during the funeral of the late chief of Berekum, Daasebre Amankona Diawuo II funeral in December that prompted the slaughter of stray goats to enforce the taboo.
The development, he said, brought about some anger among the people in the area.
“Within three days, a group of young men with machete stormed the community and killed all goats in town,” he narrated.
Providing further details, he said he was invited to the chief’s palace and was ordered to evacuate the animals from the land in two weeks.
He said a plea for more time to prepare was ignored by the Council and recounted investments that was set to go waste.
He told The Spectator that looking at the over GH¢5million project going down the drain makes him very said.
From Daniel Dzirasah, Berekum
News
Craze for x’mas shopping: Crowded markets, low patronage
Vendors of food and other wares associated with the Christmas celebration have expressed surprise at the low patronage despite the increased number of visitors to some of the major markets across the capital.
Four days to the celebration(Christmas), the markets are filled with various products ranging from food, clothing, livestock and many other stuff, but according to the vendors, patrons are doing more ‘window’ shopping.
The Spectator on visits to some of the markets in the capital, notably the Odawna, Makola, Accra Central Business District, New Town and others made similar observations as shoppers crowd them but did little in terms of purchases.
The paper also observed that majority of vendors, originally selling other wares have switched to product related to the festive season.
What it means is that there are a lot more clothes, food and vegetables, livestock and poultry, toys, firecrackers, drinks of different types and many others on display.
The markets have also stretched to the pedestrian pavement, leaving very narrow spaces for commuters to move about freely.
That, in addition to a few of the female vendors dressed in coloured attires to reflect the occasion, has heightened the euphoria, leaving the low sales as the only headache for the vendors.
Speaking with this paper, they sounded very optimistic, believing that sales would improve in the last few days to the yuletide.
According to them, there was the opportunity to sell beyond Christmas as the New Year celebration offers similar opportunity to trade the same wares.
They urged patrons to throng the markets to shop since prices were quite moderate and products affordable for all.
News
Retirement service for Elder John Ackom-Asante,3 others
Retired Deputy Editor of The Spectator, Elder John Ackom-Asante, was last Sunday honoured by the Church of Pentecost Windy Hills District in Kasoa in the Central Region, with a retirement thanksgiving service, after serving for 26 year as an Elder of the church.
He was honoured with a citation and certificate of service along with three other elders who served in the capacity for various years.
Elder Ackom-Asante was baptised at the Darkuman Central Assembly in 1979 and ordained as an Elder in 1997.
The citation read “Your selfless service, zeal, willingness to relate wholeheartedly and your desire to effect change has gone a long way to shape the lives of many people in the church and the nation over the 26 years of your dedication to the service of the Lord.”
Elder Ackom- Asante held many positions at the Darkuman Central Assembly, Obuasi in the Ashanti Region and Tema, serving in various capacities as youth and evangelism ministry leader and marriage counsellor.
He was the founding member of the Darkuman Christian Fellowship, a member of the Greater Accra Christian Fellowship; member of Bible Society of Ghana; founding member Obuasi Chapter Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship International and founding member of New Times Corporation Christian Fellowship and Chaplain, Methodist University Tema Campus 2009- 2010.
As a professional journalist, Elder Ackom-Asante combined effectively and efficiently his duty as a member and elder of the church and the demands of his profession, with admiration from the church, kith and kin, till his retirement on December
From Alhaji Salifu Abdul-Rahaman, Kasoa
