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Don’t attack personnel in uniform – Donald Gwira warns martial artists
Members of African Goju and the young trainess after the session
Practitioners of African Goju, an indigenous sports and system of self-defence, have been cautioned not to use their skill to attack security personnel in uniform.
This distinct form of martial arts, according to the Chief Instructor of African Goju, Mr. Donald Gwira, was to protect oneself, family and property other than causing fights or being on the offensive.
He said attacking personnel in uniform was a breach of the tenets and philosophy of the sports which could attract dire consequences for the offender when found culpable.
“If anyone in uniform accosts you, take the ones’s name and service number and report the person. The problem with attacking anybody in uniform is that, if you touch them, you are fighting the institution and not the individual. The whole institution would come after you and there is nothing going to save you in that regard.
“We have had instances where these have happened and we know what the consequences have been,” he said.
Mr. Gwira gave the warning at a Martial Arts Seminar and Exhibition on African Goju, held last Saturday in Accra as part of efforts to groom the next generation of practitioners.
The Seventh Degree Black Belt with over 40-years of experience who taught some basic self-defence techniques at the event, said the goal was to make African Goju the sole form of martial arts in Africa.
He said self-defence was crucial in all aspects of life and that children were the future of the sport, hence the need to provide the needed assistance to enable them to discover their full potentials.
About 50 children between ages five and 10 put a display on various aspects of self-defence, while the senior practitioners including “Great Warrior”, Patrick Mintah, exhibited other advanced styles and tactics by breaking a beer bottle with his head as part of his presentation.
Prof. Danny Gwira, the Founder of African Goju, emphasised the need to practice, promote and sustain the unique form of martial arts in Ghana instead of looking up to the Chinese and Koreans who were considered the masters of the art.
He said it was important to imbue the art of self-defence in children at a tender age and encourage them to do things by themselves, hence the plan to organise regular training sessions and seminars in future.
“The event marked 38 years of African Goju which was not only about building physical strength but also the holistic development of an individual,” he stated.
Prof. Gwira was confident other stakeholders would support the initiative to help train and produce great practitioners in Ghana.
The event saw Mr. Joshua Brown inducted into the Ken Gwira Hall of Fame after years of dedicated service and practice.
African Goju was formed in Ghana in 1985 by Danny Gwira, a student of Professor Ron Van Clief the Founder of Chinese Goju. It is practiced in over 34 countries as there are increased efforts to promote the sport in Africa.
BY ERNEST NUTSUGAH
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Manhyia would serve as Ghana’s unifying force …Otumfuo assures on commemoration of 27 years on the Golden Stool
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, last Friday celebrated his 27th enstoolment with a colourful and culture-rich ceremony at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, drawing a distinguished gathering of dignitaries from across Ghana and beyond.
Clad in splendid kente and adorned in rich traditional regalia, the dignitaries added colour and elegance to the occasion, as the palace grounds came alive with a vibrant display of Ghanaian culture.
Traditional drumming, dancing and symbolic rites underscored the deep-rooted heritage of the Ashanti Kingdom, captivating guests and reaffirming the value of tradition in modern society.
Speaking at a high-level Executive Gala organised by the Diaspora Affairs Office of the Office of the President in strategic partnership with the E ON 3 Group, the ‘World-Meets-in-Ghana’ gala, the Asantehene urged Ghanaians to guard against the divisive tendencies of partisan politics.
The event was to honour the Asantehene’s nearly three-decade reign under the theme ‘Advancing Peace and Sustainable Economic Development through Royal Vision’.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II noted that such attitudes threatened the country’s long-standing values of unity, civility and brotherliness.
He assured that Manhyia would continue to serve as a unifying force for the nation.
The celebration also featured the presentation of commemorative gold coins to notable national leaders, including the President, John Dramani Mahama, former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as well as Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, a former Vice President in recognition of their contributions to peace and national development.
By Spectator Reporter
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Energy Minister announces full restoration of power generation units after major grid disruption
Energy Minister, John Jinapor has announced that all power generation units affected by the recent national grid disruption have been fully restored and are back in service.
According to the Minister on social media, engineers, technicians and emergency response teams worked continuously to restore electricity supply and stabilise the national grid after the incident caused major challenges within the power sector.
In a statement, the Minister praised the efforts of personnel from the Ghana Grid Company Limited, Volta River Authority and Electricity Company of Ghana for their commitment and coordination during the emergency.
“Mission accomplished. All generation units are now back in service,” the Minister stated.
He explained that despite the scale of the disruption, technical teams worked around the clock to restore power and secure stability within the system.
“Through their tireless work, discipline, and commitment to country, power has been restored and system stability secured,” he said.
The Minister further expressed appreciation to the leadership and staff of GRIDCo, VRA, ECG and other supporting agencies for their collective response to the crisis.
According to him, the successful restoration of the system demonstrates the resilience and capability of Ghanaian professionals in times of national difficulty.
“This moment shows that even under pressure, Ghana can rely on the strength and skill of its people,” he added.
The Minister offered prayers for the country’s energy sector and the engineers who led the restoration efforts.
“May God bless our engineers, our energy sector, and our nation,” he stated.
By: Jacob Aggrey
