I am still the Ankobeahene of Larteh Ahenease - Enyine Gyedu Nkansah II

Ankobeahene of Larteh Ahenease, Oberempong Enyine Gyedu Nkansah II has rubbished rituals that were observed to destool him. He believes that he is still the Ankobeahene of Larteh-Ahenease. The embattled traditional ruler is however certain that since due process was not strictly adhered to in the performance of the said rituals to unseat him, his detractors were not successful. “I am still the Ankobeahene because I have performed all what custom demands that should be performed for one to be installed as a chief”, he revealed. He went on to explain that “where my detractors sat to perform those rites purportedly to destool me is not the right place to perform such rituals and also the day they chose to do those things is not the day set in custom for the destolement of an Ankobeahene”. Obirempong Gyedu Nkansah II expressed confidence that his family still looks up to him as the Ankobehene of Ahenease and they are the only ones that can unseat him. He stressed that “for me I am still the Ankobeahene and the family (that presented me) recognizes me as such and I perform everything that an Ankobeahene does”. “In my estimation what they did does not mean they want to destoool me”, he added. The embattled traditional ruler was certain that the raging disagreement and factionalism that has developed among the traditional rulers of the town is the cause of all problems facing the town. He therefore called for cool heads to prevail and the challenges could be resolved in a day. He explained “the challenges confronting Larteh can be resolved in a day if we are all committed towards it”. “I believe that once these issues are solved all people who share in his vision to develop Larteh will contribute their resources to help in improving the standard of education, health issues, economic issues and all other things confronting the community”, he opined. Late last year, some members of the traditional council performed rituals aimed at destooling the Ankobehene of Ahenease, Obirempong Enyine Gyedu Nkansah II. A sheep was slaughtered and libation said to invoke the gods to witness their apparent inability to work with him. The event was witnessed by close to hundred town folks who took time out of the fateful Thursday morning. Among those assembled were the Adanta hene, Nfoa hene, Sumankwa hene, Akwamu hene and Okomfo Sofo. Leading the Akyeame was the Akyeame hene as he was ably accompanied by the Guanhemea Kyeame and Nkosuo hemea Kyeame. Some of the accusations that stood against him at the time included his threats of destooling the reigning Lartehene, Osabarima Asiedu Okoo Ababio, availing himself for rituals that are reserved for Lartehene to be performed on him, insubordination towards other chiefs, among others.

DOMFOE MANTE CHALKS TEN

The youngest traditional ruler in Akuapem, Nana Okoampa Domfoe Mante II celebrated ten years of his installation as a chief of Aboaseman in Larteh Akuapem. Aboase comprises of Akremede, Agyankode, Annukode and Abugyode clans of the town. As Aboase hene, he is also the Asona hene of Larteh Akuapem and Head of the Konkom Shrine. He has also been installed as the Akwamu hene of the Benkum division of Akuapem.

Nana Domfoe Mante II commended stakeholders working towards the re unification Akuapem in order to re establish peace and unity among the feuding traditional leaders of Akuapem. News of a peace accord signed to signify the re unification is a welcome news by all well meaning children of Akuapem. Our most respected Chiefs have been engaged in a disagreement which led to the creation of four more paramountcies and a strained relationship among some of the chiefs. Speaking at his tenth anniversary Ohum festival, Nana Okoampah Domfoe Mante II commended all those who contributed in making this peace pact see the light of day. He however singled out Osabarima Asiedu Okoo Ababio III, Chief of Larteh and Akuapem Benkumhene for his efforts. Others who played immense roles were also commended. He said “I am also indebted to Eastern Regional Minister, our Municipal Chief Executive, all stakeholders and individual who fought day and night for this day”. The Akwamuhene of the Benkum division used the platform to call for support for his long held policy of enhancing education opportunities for all. Nana Okoampah Domfoe Mante expressed his relentless passion for seeking to improve livelihoods for the Youth.

Nana Domfoe Mante II was enstooled Chief of Aboase in Larteh immediately after his Secondary School education and has acquitted himself excellently as a traditional ruler. His annual Aboaseman festival has been the talk of town ever since its inception. The weeklong festival witnessed a variety of activities; prominent among them was the installation of an Ankobeahene Nana (OKyerefo Kwafo Akoto I) and an Okyeame for the Akwamuhene stool. Other activities included a cooking competition, a musical concert, a love feast, thanksgiving service and a durbar to climax the festival. The very well attended durbar of chiefs and people was attended by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Akropong, Hon. W.O. Boafo, Former Adenta MP, Hon Opare Hammond, Winner of last year’s edition of Ghana’s Most Beatiful, Emefa, Chief of Anum Apapam and many other Chiefs and Queen mothers of both Larteh Kubease and Ahenase.

A plague of honor was presented to Hon. W.O. Boafo for contributing to the development of the area. Emefa of Ghana’s Most Beautiful fame used the opportunity to sensitize the gathering on the need to educate the woman. She said “it is obvious that female education is essential prerequisite for development”. The theme for the festival was “Raising the Standard of Education, The Role of all Stakeholders”.

MENOPAUSE IS NOT WITCHCRAFT

A renowned Gynecologist, Dr. Clarence Addo-Yobo has cautioned women to desist from the habit of blaming witches and other spiritual forces for changes in their body as they advance in age. These changes are natural and a normal occurrence in growing women.

He disclosed that these symptoms of are a clear manifestation of menopause and has nothing to do with the witches underpinning they are blamed on. He expressed his frustration with the worrying tendency of women attempting to use spiritual therapies in treating these symptoms of menopause. Dr. Addo-Yobo made these observations as he was speaking at the health segment of the ninth edition of the Akuapem Education Day Celebration of the Akuapem Community Foundation held at Obosomase Presby Church. He further revealed that some of the symptoms of menopause in women aside the seizure of the monthly blood flow known commonly as menstruation. These symptoms include among others rashes, heavy sweating at night, and some bodily discomforts. “They are not demonic or the work of witches”, he cautioned. Speaking to the issue of teenage pregnancy, Dr. Addo-Yobo charged parents to fulfill their godly responsibility on their children by feeding, clothing, sheltering and educating their children. He revealed that most cases of teenage pregnancies in our communities are as a result of unbearable hardships faced by the children. The hardships faced by these children make them prone to the deception of men who give them small amounts of money for sexual favours from these children. He stressed that the children who turn mothers are immature with human systems that are not fully developed. This therefore affects the children they bear at that age as most of these children are not always very clever. He challenged the queenmothers to take up this duty of educating the female children on the need to abstain from sex at the tender ages to avoid teenage pregnancies. Queen mothers are seen as the mothers of the society and should therefore use their privileged positions to help arrest this worrying trend. In another health related development at the event, Dr. Mahmoud of the Focus Orthopedic Hospital sensitized the gathering on the condition known as “low back pain”. He revealed that low back pain is the medical term of the condition generally known as waist pain. This is mostly caused by bad sitting positions and indulging in activities involving heavy lifting. He gave a demonstration on good sitting positions, stressing on upright sitting and avoiding hanging feet. The medical officers present screened over hundred people for various illnesses and counseled them on good eating habits.