Oguaa Chief Summons Residents Over Venomous Vipers

Published on Tuesday, 28 May 2013 12:48       Written by Desmond K. Dapaah, Cape Coast

http://independentgh.com/sportsnews/oguaa-chief-summons-residents-over-venomous-vipers

Chief of Oguaa the Traditional Area, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II (R)

The paramount Chief of Oguaa Traditional Area, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, has summoned residents of Cape Coast home and abroad to a crisis meeting scheduled for June 1, 2013.

The crisis meeting, which will be held at the Ato Austin Gardens, comes in the wake of canvassing support to revamp its ancient traditional football club, ‘Venomous Vipers.’

Venomous Vipers were relegated from Ghana’s Glo Premier League many years back and were now struggling for survival with teams in the division two due to financial and material constraints which has caused the club to collapse.

The gathering will also be used to outdoor new board members and other management officials to steer the affairs of Vipers.

In a release issued by Osabarima, who doubles as the Chief patron for the club, he  expressed worry  over how a club with a credible history from Gold Coast through to independence has suffered to the extent that they have  be relegated to  division two.

According to him, selfless dedication, financial and material constraints have resulted in the struggle for the team to gain its glory - a situation which has led him to summon all residents and natives from Cape Coast to come to the aid of Vipers.

Osabarima, however, lauded the Interim Management Committee (IMC) for standing behind the club even in times that they faced difficulties and urged them to continue soliciting for little funds to sustain the club.

“We cannot fail and we need not fail. We need to do all that we can to bring back Vipers to its glory” Osabarima stated.

He was optimistic that when Vipers were given the needed financial backing, the club would bounce back to compete with the bigger teams in the premiership.

Fishermen Vow To Reject Government Tax Hikes

Published on Friday, 12 July 2013 07:42 | Written by Desmond K. Dapaah, Central Region |

A Ghanaian fisherman

Fishermen along the coastal belt of the Central Region have raised serious concerns about government’s decision to increase taxes imposed on the importation of some agricultural and fishing equipment including outboard motors.

The fishermen have vowed to resist such taxes from government since they would quickly collapse the fishing industry.

"When the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party was campaigning in 2012, they told us they would revive and restore the fishing industry to its former glory. Is this the glory that they talked of? If this is the glory they would give us after we voted for them then we would advice ourselves," they said.

These fisher folks within the region, who spoke to The Independent in separate interviews, hinted that they were preparing grounds to stage the biggest of all demonstration to register their displeasure to government.

They added that should government fail to hear them, they would match themselves to the seat of government in Accra.

"We will not accept any increase in taxes. Never! The fishing industry is collapsing and instead of massing up strategies to regain its glory you rather want to destroy it totally. Why?’’ They quizzed.

“Currently, an outboard motor is sold between GH¢ 7,000 and 9,000 yet we cannot even get some to buy. Instead of importing more at a reduced price for us, you rather want to impose more taxes on them. So how can we buy them?" they asked.

The aggrieved fisher folks however noted that they would not have any problem with government should there be more of their fishing equipment on the market and also know what those huge taxes accrued from such equipment were used for in the country.

"If there were to be outboard motors and fishing materials in abundance on the market, we would not have had any problem but since there were none and we could not buy even the few on the market, yet more taxes were to be placed on them then we would not agree with government. Never!" they stated.

In an interview over the weekend with the Chief Fisherman of Elmina, Nana Akonu, he expressed worry about government’s intention to increase the said taxes. He stated that even though government has supported them over the years with fishing materials, fisher folks were in real danger since they could no longer have enough equipment to improve their work.

Nana Akonu noted that the current hardships in the industry have caused some of their wards to be expelled from their school since their parents could not afford to pay their tuition fees. The chief fisherman however appealed to government to increase the supply of such fishing and agricultural inputs rather than increasing the prices.

He was quick to add that they had no problem with government wanting to impose taxes, but that central government should ensure that their inputs were in abundance for them to get anytime they needed.

There Will Be Bloodshed In Ghana – Owusu Bempah Predicts

Published on Friday, 28 June 2013 09:42 | Written by Desmond K. Dapaah 
http://independentgh.com/home/top-story/there-will-be-bloodshed-in-ghana-owusu-bempah-predicts

Prophet Owusu Bempah

Leader and founder of Glorious Word Ministry International in Accra, Owusu Bempah, has appealed to the nine Supreme Court justices presiding over the 2012 election petition to be firm - without fear or favour - in making clear judgment.

According to him, any decision - being favourable or not - would have serious effects on the nation hence the need for the justices to be bold and place where the truth belonged.

He however warned that there would be a blood spill in the country should the judges fail to make the right declaration.

"Now, the whole blood of Ghanaians are vested in the hands of the nine justices, therefore, I warn them to critically examine and scrutinise the case before them to make a decision favourable to  all or else blood will spill after the verdict.’’

Prophet Owusu Bempah disclosed this on "Pampaso", an educative program aired on Adom TV on MultiTv channel last Friday, answering questions to his numerous prophecies declared to happen in Ghana.

Rev. Bempah hinted that he smelt death around the nine justices, saying that some politicians have gone to seek spiritual support to kill and turn the minds of the judges to rule in their favour.

"Do you remember the accident of Dr Bawumia when he was returning from his hometown? It was masterminded by the some elements in the ruling government’s party,” he said.

He categorically stated that so far as he lived as a man of God, he would not allow such bad things to happen.

He warned those perpetrators within the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) to do away with such evil acts or else they would face severe punishment from God.

He indicated that the NDC have planned to kill the first petitioner and flag bearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo Addo, the party's Chairman, Jake O. Obetsebi, and star witness of NPP in the ongoing trail.

According to him, these elements in the NDC have pulled the spirit of Nana Addo into some buried cows - he refused to name the place, though.

"Some NDC politician have gone to Benin and secured spiritual powers to turn the Supreme Court judges minds on the truth but it will not work," he said.

The vociferous Bempah further revealed that about two weeks ago, while he was preparing for church service, a guy who claimed to be an NDC guru spoke to him on phone saying he could not sleep and felt no happiness in his life any longer since he was part of those elements that hid the spirit of Nana Addo in the cows just to ensure that he lost the elections.

He noted that after he spoke with the unknown caller who failed to disclose his name, he again received a text message from a Takoradi-based nationally recognised prophetess which topped the dream he had had and what the NDC guru had told him on phone that some big wigs had buried the spirit of Nana Addo in cows.

Rev. Bempah therefore assured Ghanaians that no president would die as prophesied since he believed God has answered his prayers.

“Leaders, friends and family members of those that I prophesied about have approached me. I urged them to pray since I and my other pastors were already fasting over it. Therefore I do hope and believe that God has accepted our prayers,” he noted.

He was quick to add that should they go back to their bad deeds the curse would bounce back on them.

Kotokuraba Market Sits On Time Bomb

Published on Friday, 17 May 2013 14:40 | Written by Desmond K. Dapaah, Cape Coast
http://independentgh.com/local-news/kotokuraba-market-sits-on-time-bomb

Kotokoraba Market women selling in the sun

The Kotokuraba market in the Cape Coast Metropolis of the Central Region now sits on a time bomb as traders have begun to ask questions on the danger the market poses to them should there be a fire outbreak.

Like the Kantamanto market in the Greater Accra region, the Kotokuraba market serves as the main market center for all kinds of trade activities for people within the region.

Kotokuraba market is so crowded that, there is little space left between two stores used as a pathway for purchasers to walk through while the stores itself are mainly attached to each other without any space.

This will make it very difficult for fire service personal to enter and rescue traders in any unforeseen disaster.

A visit to the market on Monday by The Independent observed that, anytime a bargain hunter tries to move from one shop to the other, one usually hit the shoulder of a fellow which makes it difficult for smooth movement.

The paper also observed that, some shop owners continue to cook in the market even though they have been advised by the Cape Coast Metro Fire command to be extra vigilant with the use of fire in the market.

The Independent further observed that, the market becomes much more crowded on Sundays where all the roads were blocked and used for trading activities.

Information gathered proved that, about two years ago, the Kotokuraba market got burnt due to illegal power connection and use of fire within the market.

A staff (name withheld) of the Cape Coast Metro Fire Command who spoke to the paper on Monday revealed that, her outfit has formed a prevention team that normally visit the Kotokuraba market to educate the traders on fire preventions.

According to her, the traders have turned a deaf ear to what they educate them on adding, traders only dance to the tune of music played at the grounds and not the message from the fire service officials.

“It’s sad to organize such educative program  on fire and the market women come to dance only to the music without even having time to listen to what we have for them”  she said.

She further stated that, her office has written to the Cape Coast Metropolitan Chief Executive officer on what ought to be done to prevent any unforeseen occurrence a situation she said, have since not received any response from the assembly.

She however urged Municipal, Metropolitan and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to tighten and enforce their bylaws  to prevent any fire outbreak.

The Independent can state on authority that, should the Kotokuraba market be on fire, about thousands of Ghana cedis would be lost if the necessary mechanisms are not put in place to stop the illegal power connections and use of fire for cooking in the market, it will be a major disaster to the nation.     

Although there is a new market under construction, the pace at which construction works were undertaken is slow that, the market seems not to be built anytime soon.

Find Alternative To Aboakyer Festival

Published on Tuesday, 14 May 2013 10:43 | Written by Desmond K. Dapaah, Winneba
(http://independentgh.com/local-news/find-alternative-to-aboakyer-festival)

A deer on the shoulders of one Asafo mmember

Barely a week into the celebration of the Aboakyer festival by the chiefs and people of Winneba in the Central Region, some natives have expressed discomfort about the way the two major traditional warriors in the area could not catch a deer to climax the occasion.

According to them, this was the first time they have heard and seen the Tuafo and Dentsefo    warriors not having any catch for the Paramount Chief to step on to signify it acceptance by the gods.

The Independent gathered that even though there was no clasp of deer from the Winneba forest this year, the chiefs quickly slaughtered a brown sheep to replace the deer which, according to sources, has been accepted by the gods of Winneba.

Although the deer has been the pivot around which the Aboakyer festival was celebrated, residents thought it was time for traditional rulers in the area to rescind their decision since the forest was fast
depleting.

A resident of Winneba who spoke to the paper on condition of anonymity said it was so disturbing and disgracing for no catch this year, adding that the cause would be the entrance of hunters who hunt for live animals in the thick forest daily. 

He added that the unfortunate happened because people have began building closer and closer to the forest; an unfortunate situation.

He therefore appealed to the chiefs to either consult their gods earlier to know whether there would be a catch or find an alternative to prevent any embarrassment in subsequent years.

 In an exclusive interview with the head of Otuano Royal Family of Winneba, Neenyi Bondzie, who seemed unhappy, revealed that since there was no deer catch on the festival day, the leaders quickly consulted their god, ‘Denkyi Otu,’ who gave them the alternative to replace the deer with the sheep which was slaughtered on Sunday.

“The Otuano Royal house is the most affected in this situation and we have no option than to consult our god for an alternative to appease him - which it did. Therefore we slaughtered the alternative to settle him on Sunday.” he said.

Neenyi Bondzie categorically stated that the only alternative for a successful catch was to settle any disputes among them. 

He stated that a major factor which contributed to the no clasp was due to the encroachments of people to the forest, adding that since these animals hated the presence of humans closer to them they have no option than to move away from the forest. 

Neenyi Bondzie noted that spiritual factors also contributed to the unfortunate which characterised the festival, stating that, it became very difficult to allow the respective leader to step on the deer as done years back since all heads wanted to step on it.

“I don’t know whether it was power that they wanted or something else. Those difficulties led to the dismay this year. This Paramount Chief steps on the deer and not anyone else. If any chief wants to step on it, it must be in consultation with the royal family and not by the use of force” he added.

Neenyi Bondzie further revealed that to resolve the issues surrounding the Aboakyer festival for a perfect one next year, there was the need for settlement of internal and external issues with the
traditional area. 

Internally, Neenyi Bondzie noted that there were serious tides within the family and needed urgent remedies to resolve them.

 He also called on stakeholders to come to their aid and support them in settling the problems at hand once and for all.

He added that without the truth and the truth being understood and told to the masses, the problems Winneba faced would persist for a long time. 

“People of Winneba are Guans and not Akan’s. We are different people altogether. We speak a different language. The Guans are the founders of Winneba and succeed the patrilineal lineage not the Akan’s matrilineal lineage” he stated.

“Once the truth is told to the younger generation, I tell you, the issues in Winneba would be settled and there will be no more issues in the years yet unborn” he added.