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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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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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