News
Alhaji Raji enstooled new Oba of Yoruba community
Yorubas in Ghana last Saturday stormed Chief Braimah Avenue at Sekondi to coronate Chief Raji V, an astute sports administrator, as the new Oba of the Yoruba community in the Western Region.
Although COVID-19 protocols were strictly observed, it did not take away the joy from the fair Yorubas, who graced the occasion and also to savour the joy of the day. Even, the six hours of rains that heralded Raji’s coronation, did not prevent anxious guests from attending.
handkerchief at the crowd
Peregrino Braimah VIII and his council members
turbaned by Imams
members receiving homage from a Yoruba woman
Showcasing colour, pomp and style, the coronation witnessed profused Yoruba tradition from preparation of variety of Yoruba cuisine, bounty dresses through to the turbaning of Raji V, amidst Muslim tradition.
What added the ceremonial touch to the event was the presence of the cream of Yoruba community in Ghana including Oba Alhaji Hamza Peregrino Braimah V111, Chairman of the Yoruba Council of Obas, Oba Alhaji Saka Salami (Olu Kasoa 1), from the Central Region.
The mood of the guests broke bounds when at exactly 12.30pm, Chief Raji V, dressed in an all-white attire, emerged from the palace waving a white handkerchief signifying his victory.
Spontaneously, the Chief Braimah Avenue at Sekondi burst into ecstasy as the Yorubas shouted ‘Raji’, ‘Raji’,Raji, ‘All hail our Oba’, ‘May Allah bless your reign!”
Before his installation, the National Chief Imam of the Yoruba community, Sheikh Mustapha Hussein Diko and the Western Regional Chief Imam, Sheikh Alhaji Ali Hassan, led the congregation to recite prayers for the soul of late Chief Raji 1V, climaxing the 40-day Adua.
Later, the Elder of the Raji family, Alhaji Mustapha Raji, the Imams and Muslim chiefs, presented Chief Raji V with a Koran and turbaned the head to signify his office.
In a chat with The Spectator, Chief Raji V, also known as Alhaji Ali Omola Braimah Raji, pledged to unify the Raji family and the Yoruba community to ensure the peace and development of Sekondi-Takoradi and the entire Western Region.
Born on September 26, 1956, Chief Raji V, began his education at St Peters Anglican Primary School, Sekondi and completed at the St Peters Anglican Middle School, Ketan, in 1971.
He had his secondary school education at the Sekondi College, and, later enrolled at the Kwara State College of Technology, Ilorin, in Nigeria. From there, he worked as the Client Service Manager at Project Monitors.
Chief Raji V returned to Ghana and took over the late father’s business, situated at the Market Circle, Takoradi, and also established Raji Timbers Limited, engaging in the export of wood products.
He established First Pole Limited to deal in general contracts and the marketing of agricultural products.
His interest in sports led him to become a director and team manager as well as the chairman of Sekondi Eleven Wise Football Club, and subsequently, elected unopposed as the chairman of Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) from 2010 to 2016.
With zeal, dedication and commitment, the experienced sports administrator led GHALCA for six good years, and, undoubtedly, got a triple, as he was appointed the vice chairman of the Player Status Committee, a member of the under-17 national team and a member of the senior female football team.
From Clement Adzei Boye, Sekondi
Mr. Alfred Nii Kotey Ashie, the Member of Parliament for the Odododiodioo Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, has assured the Accra Street Academy of his support in achieving its mission of uplifting vulnerable children within the community to break the cycle of poverty. “Without the needed support, your efforts may go round in circles due to the enormity of the task. This should not be left on the shoulders of the Academy alone. You need support from both government and the private sector. With that, the Academy would be in a good position to shape the future of these children on the streets,” he said.
The Accra Street Academy, originally formed in 1985 as a boxing arena, now serves as a school for deprived children, with most of its population numbering hundreds of pupils being neglected children from the streets of Jamestown and its environs. Mr. Alfred Nii Kotey Ashie made these remarks at the annual stakeholders’ meeting and fundraising event held over the weekend under the theme “Empowering Street Children: Health and Wellness.” The event is one of the Academy’s annual programmes, organized to raise funds and other forms of support to aid the school in catering to the needs of the children and holding its Christmas get-together.
According to the MP, it is worth noting that these children are taught and provided with two meals and a snack daily through the support of benevolent members of society. In view of this, he promised to facilitate the acquisition of documents needed for the construction of an Astroturf within the school’s premises. He noted that “every child has the right to play, and therefore I pledged to do my best to secure the needed documents” for the project to commence.
The legislator disclosed that over the years, the academic programmes of the Accra Street Academy have transformed children surviving on the streets into successful adults. He therefore urged other members of society to partner with the school to “help pupils rise higher for a better Ghana.” In the 2025/26 academic year, 22 pupils were absorbed by the Accra Metro Education Directorate as they transitioned into various Junior High Schools, while still returning to the Accra Street Academy for academic support.
Ms. Yvonne Abba-Opoku, a chartered governance advisor and senior executive in the nonprofit and charity sector, stated that the best gift to give a child was education.
By Spectator Reporter
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Mrs Regina Kudom, Senior Midwifery Officer at the New Atuabo Health Centre in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality, has urged expectant mothers to attend antenatal clinic regularly for safe delivery.
She revealed that “in Tarkwa and its environs many pregnant women prefer staying at prayer camps, we are not against that, you can be there, but when your time is up for your antenatal session make sure you attend.”
Mrs Kudom gave the advice when the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation (GFGF) observed the World Prematurity Day with pregnant women at New Atuabo, Huniso and Awudua health centres.
World Prematurity Day falls on November 17, every year, and it is celebrated to raise awareness about the challenges faced by pre-term babies and their families.
She said research suggested that sex during pregnancy could soften the cervix and potentially aid in labour preparation.
“That is the reason why we encourage pregnant women to have sex with their partners, if they do not have any health implications,” she added.
Mrs Kudom appealed to the GFGF to upgrade the New Atuabo health centre as the current structure was too small because they received many patients daily.
Madam Ayishetu Mohammed, Project Coordinator for GFGF, explained that they received donations from Project C. U. R. E and the items were given to health facilities in their operational area.
She stated that they noticed there were baby dresses, sanitary pads, and baby apparel, so they decided to distribute them among expectant mothers in three of their host communities.
Madam Mohammed said because the foundation was interested in preventive care, they brought a midwife from the Tarkwa Mine hospital to educate the pregnant women.
She extolled the midwives in New Atuabo health centre for the education they gave to the pregnant women and implored them to heed to the advice given during antenatal visits to reduce maternal deaths in the Tarkwa Nsuaem and Prestea Huni-Valley Municipalities.
Mr Paa Kwasi Egan, Deputy Chief Physician Assistance, emphasised that a pregnant woman being anemic meant she was not eating a balance diet, and added that, “Some of these women do not have money to buy food or visit antenatal clinics.”
He said when men follow their wives for antenatal visits, they would be educated extensively on why they should provide funds for their pregnant wives.
Mr Egan, therefore, encouraged all men to be involved in their pregnant wives’ antenatal care appointments so they could learn more about pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting. – GNA
