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‘Twerking’ not part of borborbor …Paramount Chief stops indecent dancers

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Togbe Tepreh Hodo IV interracting with Mr. Archibald Yao Letsa at the durbar

Borborbor, the traditional dance of Ewes in the middle belt of the Volta Region, is a prominent feature at public gatherings. It has been in existence for years and often comes with delightful choreography that attracts many people.

Some dance groups design costumes and rehearse performances ahead of major events. However, a few youth groups in an attempt to ‘spice up their show’ have introduced sexually suggestive dance moves also known as ‘twerking’ which natives consider unacceptable.

Indeed, the Paramount Chief of Anfoega Traditional Area, Togbe Tepreh Hodo IV, would tolerate none of such ‘profane borbobor’ when he sat at a durbar of chiefs during the Easter celebrations at Anfoega Akukome on Saturday April 16, 2022.

Activities lined up for the day took off smoothly until a borborbor group from one of the towns was called upon to entertain the gathering.

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The group brought on their best performance, moving to rhythm and good tunes before the Master of Ceremony (MC) signalled them to call it off, apparently due to their seductive dance move and somewhat indecent outfit.

They defied the orders and continued the performance which prompted Togbe himself to step in and show them the exit.

“There is something called protocol but I will break it,” Togbe Tepreh Hodo IV said when he grabbed the microphone from the MC. 

“We don’t accept this type of dance here. Don’t come and perform this kind of dance in our midst ever again,” he fumed in the local dialect while the gathering responded with thunderous applause.

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Other indigenes at the function also endorsed the ‘ruling’ of the Paramount Chief, and expressed reservations on how some young people have sought to change the face of ‘borborbor’ with ‘inappropriate’ dancing styles.

This isolated incident did not take away the splendour of the main event which was to raise funds for development and encourage citizens to reconnect back home.

Togbe Tepreh Hodo IV, in his address, highlighted various projects, including the re-construction of the Community Centre, the Catholic Hospital, and other self-help initiatives in the area.

He urged traditional leaders to lead by example and show commitment to the task they have been assigned, and further asked the citizens and political authority in the jurisdiction to support developmental efforts of the people.

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Present at the celebration were Ms. Joyceline Tetteh, Member of Parliament for North Dayi, Mr. Emmanuel Kwesi Bedzrah, Member of Parliament for Ho West, Mr. Archibald Yao Letsa, Volta Regional Minister, Mr Edmund Attah Kudjoh, District Chief Executive for North Dayi, among others.

The dignitaries praised the unity among the indigenes and advised them to continue to give the traditional leaders the necessary support for the progress of the region.

By Ernest Nutsugah

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African leaders urged to end preventable maternal deaths, AIDS

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The delegates after the opening ceremony

African leaders have been urged to strengthen political commitment and domestic investment to end preventable maternal deaths and AIDS by 2030. 

The call comes as African health ministers and policymakers meet in Accra to deliberate on health financing, health security and universal health coverage across the continent. 

Mr Edouard Bizimana, Burundi’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and Development Cooperation, made the call on Tuesday at the opening of the African Union’s (AU) 25th Extraordinary Summit on Health in Accra. 

He said Africa needed increased domestic investment to build resilient health systems as it continued to grapple with infectious diseases and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). 

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Mr Bizimana, who is also Chairperson of the AU Executive Council, said although Africa accounted for nearly 17 per cent of the world’s population, it bore 24 per cent of the global disease burden while having less than three per cent of the global health workforce and only one per cent of global health expenditure. 

“Despite maternal mortality declining by nearly 40 per cent since 2000, Africa still accounts for about 70 per cent of maternal deaths globally, while almost two-thirds of people living with HIV reside on the continent,” he said. 

Mr Bizimana said the growing burden of NCDs was placing additional pressure on already stretched health systems. 

“These figures are not merely statistics. They represent painful human realities, preventable losses and unacceptable inequalities, they remind us that health is not an expense it is a strategic investment and a prerequisite for our sovereignty and development. “he said. 

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Mr Bizimana said recent global health emergencies had exposed Africa’s vulnerability and underscored the need to expand local production of medicines and vaccines, strengthen the health workforce and improve emergency preparedness. 

“Our citizens expect resilient health systems where every mother can give birth safely, every child has access to essential healthcare and every African enjoys quality health services regardless of where they live,” he said. 

The two-day summit, being held ahead of the 20th Extraordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government, has brought together health ministers, policymakers and health stakeholders to identify solutions to Africa’s health financing and security challenges. 

Madam Florence Samizi, Tanzania’s Deputy Health Minister, called for stronger collaboration among AU Member States to accelerate progress towards universal health coverage. 

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The summit is being held on the theme: “Advancing Justice, Equality and Universal Health Coverage: Ending AIDS, Tuberculosis, Improving Maternal Health, Addressing Endemic Non-Communicable and Neglected Tropical Diseases in Africa.” 

The meeting is expected to adopt the Accra Declaration, a roadmap to strengthen Africa’s health systems and advance health sovereignty by 2030. -GNA 

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Wontumi judgment must lead to wider fight against galamsey- Dr. Zaato

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Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana’s Department of Political Science, Dr. Joshua Jebuntie Zaato says the imprisonment of the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, will have little meaning unless it leads to a broader crackdown on illegal mining.

In a post on his Facebook page on the July 21, 2026, Dr. Zaato said the judgment should mark the beginning of efforts to completely eradicate galamsey and hold all those involved accountable, regardless of their political affiliation.

He said the country must work towards restoring polluted rivers, protecting forests and ensuring that people implicated in illegal mining activities are prosecuted.

According to him, those the President has publicly acknowledged to be involved in galamsey should face prosecution.

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He called for the prosecution of district chief executives (DCEs), members of Parliament (MPs) and senior political party officials who have been accused of engaging in or supporting illegal mining.

Dr. Zaato further urged the government to take decisive action to end the destruction of the country’s forests caused by galamsey.

He maintained that the imprisonment of Chairman Wontumi would only have a lasting impact if it results in a comprehensive and impartial fight against illegal mining across the country.

By: Jacob Aggrey

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