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Christians must embrace tradition, culture
The Paramount Chief of Abutia Traditional Area, Togbega Abutia Kodzo Gidi, has asked Christians to change their attitude towards culture and tradition, upon which society was built and stop regarding chiefs as evil and idol worshipers.
Togbega Gidi said it was unfortunate that some Christians did not appreciate the roles chiefs played, and associated them with evil, and anytime a royal attends church and was about to be made a chief, the church members opposed such a decision.
The Paramount Chief made the call at the outdooring ceremony of a new Mankrado for the Abutia Traditional area, Togbe Keh VIII, and his Queen mother, Mama Kehbeah III, all from the Gbakoe Clan of Abutia-Teti in the Ho West District of the Volta Region.
The 36-year old Mankrado works with the Ho West District Assembly as the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) Coordinator, while Mama Kehbeah, aged 23, is a biological scientist.
Togbega Gidi said it was important for Christians to appreciate the traditional and cultural values of the communities they live in and described the chieftaincy institution as the lifeline of society centuries before Christianity came.
He also stated that the role of chiefs, among others included promotion of peace, unity, development, and preservation of culture and tradition of the people, adding that the peace being enjoyed in the country paves the way for churches to propagate the gospel.
Togbega Gidi emphasised that “I advise all Christians to respect our tradition and cultural values, and should understand that our ancestors are there, and there is also a supreme God that we recognise as well, so please change your attitude, chiefs are not evil men as you think; we all recognise a higher God like you do.”
The Paramount chief further urged the new chief and queen mother to work closely with the chiefs and queen mothers of the area to promote development, stressing the need to preserve and promote the tradition and cultural values of the people of Abutia for the benefit of the present and future generations.
The newly outdoored Mankrado of the Abutia Traditional area, Togbe Keh VIII, thanked the kingmakers for the confidence reposed in him and the queen mother, Mama Kehbeah III, and called for collaboration and support to enable them to work effectively.
Togbe Keh said his vision was to work with traditional rulers in the area to promote education, saying education was the engine of growth of every community, stressing on his priority and urged parents to ensure that their children of school going age were in school.
The Queen mother Mama Kehbeah III also assured that she would support the Abutia Traditional Council to bring the needed development to the area, to make the area more attractive to the youth to live and work, stressing the importance of the people to uphold and defend the culture values of the area.
From Samuel Agbewode, Abutia-Teti, Oti Region
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THE 2026 Akwambo Festival at Gomoa Amoanda in the Ga East District has been held with a call for unity, peace, and collective action towards local development.
The festival, celebrated under the theme: ‘Unity, Peace and Development,’ provided a platform for community leaders and residents to highlight critical challenges affecting health, education, water, and sanitation in the area.
The durbar took place on Saturday at the Town Square of Gomoa Amoanda, attracting chiefs, elders, and residents from across the district.
Addressing the gathering, the Odikro of Gomoa Amoanda, Nana Kofi Budu Sersah IV, appealed for urgent government and stakeholder support to address the lack of a CHPS compound, reliable drinking water, proper school infrastructure, and additional teachers.
He disclosed that land had been allocated for the construction of a CHPS compound and called for support from the government, corporate bodies, and benevolent individuals.
Touching on sanitation, Nana Budu Sersah IV noted that the construction of a public toilet had stalled due to financial constraints and appealed for assistance to complete the project.
Representing the Central Regional Minister, Eduamoah Ekow Panyin Okyere, the District Chief Executive for Gomoa East, Margaret Naana Ackom, pledged government support for key development initiatives.
She announced a donation of 20 bags of cement for the public toilet and assured further assistance for other projects once land was made available.
The Prampimhene of the Awutu Traditional Area in the Central Region, Nana Okromansah Klordey I, who also serves as the Mankrado of Pakro Akuapim in the Eastern Region under the stool name of Nana Ntow Amoah II, expressed concern over rising drug abuse among youth.
By Stephanie Birikorang
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THE Ofankor–Nsawam road commuters appear to have breathe a sigh of relief over the progress of work on the road project which has reached 81 per cent completion.
A visit by The Spectator to the project site revealed that a significant portion of the road had already been asphalted, while most of the storm drains and culverts had been completed.
In addition, the various flyovers and pedestrian footbridges were at different stages of completion.
This appears to be the best news for commuters that ply the road daily as information indicated that the project would be completed on schedule.
According to the Chief Resident Engineer, Kwabena Bempong, steady progress had been made across the 33.4-kilometre stretch.
He expressed the hope that the remaining works would be delivered within the revised timeline, subject to the resolution of outstanding land issues at Nsawam Junction.
The Ofankor–Nsawam road forms part of National Route Six (N6), a major arterial highway linking Accra to the northern parts of the country and extending further to the Sahelian regions of West Africa.
The project scope includes the construction of four major interchanges at Amasaman, Pobiman, Medie and Nsawam Junction, alongside service roads and other ancillary facilities and is valued at $346.5 million.
By Kingsley Asare
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