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Dagaaba, Frafra celebrate unity, culture, business at 29th Games
The 29th Annual Dagaaba-Frafra Friendly Games have once again demonstrated that sports can be a powerful vehicle for cultural preservation, business networking, friendship and peaceful coexistence.
Held at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra last Saturday, the games brought together members of the two ethnic groups from across Ghana and abroad for a colourful celebration under the theme, “Unity in Diversity: The Dagaaba-Frafra Model for Peaceful Co-existence.”
The event, which has evolved from a friendly football match into a major annual gathering, featured football, volleyball, sack races, lime and spoon, tug-of-peace and a penalty shootout for senior citizens.
At the end of the competitions, the Frafra won four events, while the Dagaaba secured victories in five, with the men’s soccer match ending in a draw.
The Frafra triumphed in the men’s lime and spoon, men’s sack race, women’s sack race and women’s soccer, while the Dagaaba won the women’s lime and spoon, men’s volleyball, women’s volleyball, women’s tug-of-peace and the senior citizens’ penalty shootout.
However, the games extended far beyond the sporting arena. The stadium grounds and surrounding spaces became a vibrant marketplace, with patrons enjoying and purchasing a variety of traditional foods, drinks and cultural products.
Local delicacies, including TZ, tubaani, bambara beans, pork, guinea fowl, local fowls, dog meat and kosie, were sold alongside traditional alcoholic beverages. Traditional dresses and other culturally inspired items also attracted buyers, turning the gathering into an important platform for small businesses and vendors to make sales while promoting northern Ghanaian culture.
The cultural exchange continued long after the final sporting contests, as patrons remained at the venue to eat, drink, socialise, dance and party well into the night.
In her remarks, the Guest of Honour, Dr Matilda Aberese-Ako, said the gathering represented much more than competition, describing the Dagaaba-Frafra relationship as a historic bond that had evolved into a modern sporting tradition and an instrument for peace.
MTN Ghana has been the headline sponsor for the games for the past 10 years.
By Gordon Wellu
By Gordon Wellu
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Management of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has interdicted two staff members of Aduman Senior High School over alleged sexual misconduct against a male student.
The teachers are Mr. Isaac Yankey and Mr. Palance Kwakye.
According to GES, Management received reports of the alleged sexual misconduct involving the two staff members against the male student.
Following receipt of the report, the matter was referred to the Police for investigation. The two staff members have since been arrested by the Police in connection with the alleged incident.
In addition, Management has interdicted the two teachers pending the outcome of the investigations.
The alleged victim has also been provided with psychosocial support to safeguard his well-being.
Management has assured the public that appropriate measures will continue to be taken to ensure that all students learn in a safe environment.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The Ministry of Health has cautioned the public against a fraudulent fundraising campaign being aired on Ghanaian televisions, which falsely solicits money to support patients seeking surgical treatment through Mercy Ships.
Mercy Ships International, an international Christian organisation providing free surgical care and education across Africa, currently has its hospital vessel, The Global Mercy, docked at the Tema Port.
The vessel is expected to provide free surgeries to more than 2,500 Ghanaians over a 10-month period ending in June 2027.
The Ministry has clarified that patients scheduled for treatment were identified and pre-screened ahead of the vessel’s arrival through a coordinated process involving Mercy Ships and the Ministry, based on established medical and eligibility criteria.
According to them, Mercy Ships is currently operating at full capacity and is not accepting additional patients for the ongoing field service.
The Ministry emphasised that payments or registrations through third parties will not guarantee access to treatment.
The fraudulent broadcast, featuring an organisation identified as ‘HELP Save LIFE Foundation,’ solicits financial contributions through an MTN Mobile Money account.
“The Ministry wishes to state categorically that the campaign is not affiliated with, authorised by or endorsed by Mercy Ships,” the statement noted.
They reminded the public that all medical services provided by Mercy Ships are entirely free, and no patient is required to make payments, donations or mobile money transfers to access treatment.
Members of the public have therefore been advised not to make payments, share personal or financial information with individuals claiming to facilitate access to the services, or engage with similar suspicious solicitations.
The ministry encouraged the public to rely solely on official Ministry of Health and Mercy Ships communication channels for accurate information on medical services and patient access.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
