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
The Volta North Regional Police Command has secured a conviction of a 27 year old man Mohammed Rafiu for making unlawful entry and stealing church musical instruments at Hohoe in the Volta Region.
On June 5, 2026 the accused was observed near the Faith International Ministry Church carrying a sack containing various items rushing to hail a car.
The witnesses suspected his action and approached to check the content in the sack. The following items were found, One (1) Amplifier, One (1) equalizer, One (1) mixer and
Cross-over Machine all belonging to the church.
The accused was arrested and brought to the Hohoe Police District where he admitted to police to the charges leveled against him.
On Monday June 8, 2026 the accused was put before the Hohoe circuit cout where he pleaded guilty on two counts and was convicted and sentenced to three (3) years for unlawful entry and four (4) years of stealing.
Both sentences are to run concurrently.
The Volta North Regional Police Command has urged the general public to immediately report any suspected criminal activities to the Police for action.
News
Dome-Kwabenya MP, Ga East MCE tour flood-prone areas in the constituency, assure victims of support
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Dome-Kwabenya, Elikplim Akurugu, together with the Municipal Chief Executive for the Ga East Municipal Assembly, Edmund Agboh, and officials of the assembly, have toured several flood-prone communities in the constituency to identify the causes of recent flooding and inspect structures obstructing waterways.
The inspection made on the Monday, 8th June, 2026 formed part of efforts to assess the extent of the flooding, identify structures built on waterways, and develop plans for their demolition to prevent future occurrences.
Some areas visited during the tour included Christian Village, Sesemi, Abokobi Station, Falaku and the Pure Water area, all of which were affected by the recent floods that hit parts of the constituency.
Speaking to the media after the inspection, the MP expressed sadness over the destruction caused by the floods, noting that although no lives were lost, many residents had suffered significant property damage.
She attributed much of the flooding to human activities such as indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drains and the construction of buildings on waterways and drainage channels.
The MP appealed to residents to change their attitudes towards sanitation and environmental management, stressing that the country did not have a deficit of prayers but rather an attitude deficit.
She assured residents that the assembly and its technical team would immediately begin work to address some of the drainage challenges identified during the tour.
Ms. Akurugu sympathised with residents whose homes and businesses were affected by the floods and assured them that efforts were being made to secure relief items to support them.
The Municipal Chief Executive of the Ga East Municipal Assembly, Edmund Agboh, said the inspection was intended to take stock of the causes of the recent flooding, which he described as unprecedented.
According to him, the assembly wants to be proactive by identifying and addressing the factors responsible for the flooding before the next rainy season.
Mr. Agboh blamed part of the problem on the increasing number of structures being erected on waterways and drainage paths, as well as the failure of some residents to comply with building regulations.
He disclosed that many of the structures identified during the inspection would be marked for demolition after the necessary procedures had been completed.
The MCE further announced plans to intensify inspections, particularly on weekends, explaining that some developers often undertake unauthorised construction works on Saturdays and Sundays when assembly officials are not at work.
He said the assembly would collaborate with neighbouring jurisdictions and deploy additional resources to improve drainage systems and reduce flooding in the municipality.
The MCE assured that the assembly will use the findings from the inspection to implement immediate and long-term measures aimed at reducing flooding and protecting lives and property in Dome-Kwabenya.
The Director of Works at the Ga East Municipal Assembly, Engineer Justine Glover, said the team inspected several critical locations along the Dakobi River and other flood-prone areas.
He explained that at Pantang Village, officials directed contractors to excavate and open blocked culvert outlets to allow the free flow of water during rainfall.
At Sesemi, he said the team observed extensive damage caused by upstream developments and the absence of proper drainage infrastructure.
Engineer Glover added that officials recommended dredging drainage channels at Abokobi Station to improve the performance of existing culverts.
He further revealed that some structures identified on waterways at Falaku had been earmarked for demolition as part of efforts to restore the natural flow of water.
In addition to the inspection, the MP and the MCE visited residents affected by the floods in the Pure Water area to offer words of encouragement and assure them of support.
The tour also revealed that many residents had constructed buildings on waterways, while several structures lacked the required building permits, a situation officials said had contributed significantly to the flooding experienced in the constituency.
By: Jacob Aggrey
