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