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
A woman who is accused of bolting with ‘susu’ money totaling GH₵156,445 has appeared before an Accra Circuit Court.
Martha Nana Esi Afful was alleged to have collected the money from 35 complainants.
Charged with 35 counts of fraudulent breach of trust, Martha, who was earlier remanded, pleaded not guilty.
The court, presided over by Mr Joseph Y. Kuunsong on Wednesday, admitted the accused person to a GH₵200,000 bail with two sureties.
One of the sureties, the court said, must be a public servant earning not less than GH₵5,000.
She is expected to reappear on August 12, 2026.
The Prosecution’s case before the court is that the complainants are traders and residents at La in Accra.
Prosecution described Martha as a ‘Susu’ collector, who resided at Burma Camp.
The court heard that the accused person run a business with the name ‘ZOE’ and she deceived the 35 complainants into believing that she collected ‘Susu’ daily, which was kept for a period of one-three years, and paid interest on the money invested.
The complainants contributed in 2023 for a three-year period, prosecution said.
In December 2025, when the complainants went to take their money with interest, Martha went into hiding and only took phone calls from a few complainants.
Prosecution said the accused provided a MTN Momo number through which a few of the complainants still paid monies.
It said all efforts made to collect the money, totaling GH₵156,445 from her, proved futile.
On June 14, 2026, a report was made to the police and Martha was picked up at a washing bay at Tse Addo.
During interrogation, she admitted the offence in her caution statement, saying she lost her husband and relocated to Swedru in the Central Region, hence the complainants were unable to reach her from December 2025 till date.
Prosecution said Martha further stated that she had invested the monies into refuse collection business and she needed time to pay the amount.
Police are investigating the claims. –GNA
A Public Health Nurse at the Roman Ridge Sub-Municipal of the Ayawaso West Health Directorate, Ms Patience Adoli Kporxah, has cautioned the public against coming into contact with floodwaters, warning that exposure can lead to serious diseases, infections and injuries.
Floodwater, she said, should always be treated as contaminated, regardless of how clean it appears, because it may contain sewage, human and animal waste, chemicals, fuel, sharp objects and disease-causing micro-organisms.
In an interview with The Spectator in Accra on Thursday, Ms Kporxah explained that contact with contaminated floodwater exposes people to bacteria, viruses, parasites, hazardous chemicals and other physical hazards that can result in illness or injury.
Her advice came in the wake of recent exposure to floodwater following Monday’s torrential rains that left vast areas of the capital flooded.
As a result, a lot of people were seen either ‘swimming’ in the floodwater to rescue people or retrieving items being washed away.
According to her, exposure to floodwater could cause skin infections, particularly where there are cuts or open wounds, as well as diarrhoea diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery and other forms of gastroenteritis if contaminated water was swallowed.
Other health risks, she said include hepatitis A, eye and ear infections, tetanus in people with untreated wounds or incomplete vaccination, and injuries from submerged sharp objects, debris or electrical hazards.
Ms Kporxah advised anyone who had contact with floodwater to monitor their health closely and seek immediate medical attention if they develop symptoms such as fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, severe headache, muscle aches, skin rash, difficulty breathing, or yellowing of the eyes or skin.
She also urged people whose wounds became red, swollen, painful or begin to discharge pus, as well as those who accidentally swallow floodwater, to report to the nearest health facility without delay.
Although not everyone exposed to floodwater requires immediate treatment, she stressed that pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems, individuals living with chronic illnesses and those with significant wounds should seek prompt medical evaluation.
On water safety, Ms Kporxah cautioned that rainwater was not automatically safe for drinking or cooking, especially during or after flooding. She explained that rainwater collected from roofs, gutters or open containers could be contaminated by bird and animal droppings, dust, leaves, bacteria, viruses, parasites and chemical pollutants.
She advised that rainwater intended for drinking should first be treated by boiling, chlorination or another approved water purification method before use.
Touching on food safety, Ms Kporxah said factory-sealed bottled drinks and canned foods with intact packaging might still be safe after flooding.
However, she stressed that any containers submerged in floodwater should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before handling. Foods in paper packaging, damaged containers or products with broken seals should be discarded because contaminated water may have seeped into them.
She further warned that flooding increases the risk of outbreaks of cholera, typhoid fever and other waterborne diseases through contaminated water sources.
In addition, she said flooding could contribute to respiratory illnesses in overcrowded shelters and mould-infested buildings, foodborne illnesses from spoiled or contaminated food, and mental health conditions such as anxiety, stress, depression and trauma.
It could also disrupt access to medicines and healthcare for people living with chronic conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, asthma and kidney disease.
Ms Kporxah therefore urged the public to practice good hygiene, avoid unnecessary contact with floodwater, consume only safe food and drinking water, and seek medical attention promptly whenever symptoms develop.
She said observing these preventive measures would help minimise the risk of disease outbreaks and protect lives as the country continues to experience heavy rains and flooding in some communities.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
