News
2025 La Homowo Festival ends in triumph despite unsuccessful legal challenges
In a spirited interview with the media, the La Shikitele, Nii Adjei Koofeh IV reflected on the successful conclusion of the Homowo Festival, marked by the sacred Kpleshwemor rite; a ceremony where the principal deity, La Kpa is given a bull in appreciation for its good works for the La State during the year.
The final ceremony, held with pageantry and reverence, drew widespread praise from town’s folk and traditional leaders alike.
The Kpleshwemor rite, which signals the end of Homowo, featured a vibrant performance by La’s revered priests and priestesses.
They danced to the rhythm of sacred drums, an ancient tradition culminating in the slaughter of a cow in honour of the town’s principal deity. “It’s not just the dancing,” the Shikitele explained. “It’s a spiritual offering, a cultural heartbeat that connects us with our ancestors.”
The La Shikitele emphasized that all attempts over the years to derail the festival in the law courts with the reason that it cannot be celebrated in the absence of a La Mantse have failed. He further said the festival was successful and the town’s folks were happy because they followed due process and upheld custom.
From May through to September, the festival unfolded with meticulous planning and adherence to tradition. “We put in place proper arrangements, not just for the rites but for the governance of the town, and the results are a manifestation.”
The Unshaken La Shikitele (Kingmaker) and Supreme Head of the Nmati Abonase Quarter of La also touched on the concessionary arrangement with the University of Ghana, which offers reduced cut-off points for La indigenes seeking admission. He said it’s not a scholarship arrangement but a concession.
As the Homowo Festival closes, the Kingmaker Nii Adjei Koofeh IV issued a firm message to detractors: “We shall continue to manage the La State in accordance with custom and law, and no amount of interference will distract us.”
He ended on a hopeful note, reaffirming his commitment to unity, tradition, and progress for the people of La.
Ahyiresu and Abofrem, two quiet communities in the Atwima Mponua District, have been shaken to the core by a chilling midnight drama that reads like a nightmare.
A pastor and a young mother stand accused of attempting to bury a five‑month‑old baby girl alive, a crime that has ignited outrage and disbelief across the township.
According to police, Apostle Richmond Akwasi Frimpong, 36, Head Pastor of the Anointed Grace Prayer Ministry at Kuffour Camp, conspired with his uncle Emmanuel Appiah, 53, and the child’s mother, 23‑year‑old Beatrice Agyapomaa, to dispose of the infant, Anaya Achiaa, under the cover of darkness.
A fourth suspect, Emmanuel Donkor, remains on the run.
The suspects were caught near a refuse dump around 10 pm on April 9, 2026, after a vigilant resident, Akwasi Twezor, noticed their suspicious movements.
When confronted, they claimed the child was already dead and had palace approval for burial. But Twezor’s instincts proved right—the baby was still alive, gasping faintly for breath.
Chief Linguist, Nana Yaw Badu, later confirmed that Frimpong had misled him earlier in the evening, securing permission for burial by falsely declaring the child dead.
The infant was rushed to the Abofrem Clinic, where she is now responding well to treatment. Police described her as “very beautiful.”
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Evelyn Yitamkey, Commander of DOVVSU in Bibiani, confirmed that the suspects have been provisionally charged.
Frimpong faces attempted murder and conspiracy charges, while Agyapomaa and Appiah are charged with conspiracy and abetment.
They were remanded by the Bibiani Circuit Court, presided over by Judge Frank Asiedu Nimako, to assist investigations.
The docket has been forwarded to the Attorney General’s Department for advice, ASP Yitamkey indicated.
The attempted crime has provoked fury among residents, many suspecting ritual motives aimed at bolstering the pastor’s influence.
Crowds attempted to attack the suspects outside court, but police intervention prevented mob justice.
The Assembly Member for Ahyiresu, Yusuf Suleiman, has assured residents that justice will be pursued swiftly.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
The forecourt of the African University of Communications and Business (AUCB) in Accra came alive on Friday with colour, creativity and innovation, as Level 300 students transformed the space into a lively exhibition of ideas.
Under the theme “Building meaningful brands beyond the logo,” the students invited patrons into a world where ordinary products were reimagined through storytelling, design and purpose.
From scented candles to innovative food concepts, each stand told a unique story, one that went beyond aesthetics to capture identity, value and human connection.
For many of the students, the event was more than just an academic exercise; it was a moment to dream out loud.
Guided by their lecturer, Peter Wonders, they explored what it truly means to build a brand in today’s competitive world where trust, consistency and experience matter just as much as logos and slogans.
Chairman of the occasion, Nana Kum Gyata VI, in his remarks said a brand is what people say about you when you are not present.
At the end of the presentations, awards were presented to deserving groups with Vida Nyaneba emerging as the overall best branding student.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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