Dagbon On Time Bomb

Regent of Abudu Royal Gate

Information reaching Savannahnews has indicated that the order issued by the Northern Regional Security Council (REGSEC) to compel the Abudu Royal Family of the Dagbon Chieftaincy divide to celebrate this year’s 2013 Damba Festival at the Gbewa Palace in Yendi under the supervision of the Regent of Dagbon, Kampakuya-na Abdulai Yakubu Andani is likely to be defied.

 

Even though the REGSEC has since last week deployed several armed police and military personnel to Yendi to restrain the Abudu family led by Bolin-lana Mahamdu Abdulai II from celebrating the festival with his people at a separate location either than the Gbewa Palace, the Abudu’s leader seems rather ready to exercise a parallel authority.

 

The Bolin-lana and his people on last week Thursday (24^th January 2013) defied the heavy security presence in Yendi and went ahead to celebrate the Somo Damba, which is the first state of the festival amidst drumming and dancing. This celebration, according to our information, compelled the Regent of Dagbon, Kampakuya-na and his people to also celebrate the festival. 

 

The President of the Concerned Citizens Association of Tamale (CCAT), Alhassan Basharu Daballi in an interview with Savannahnews expressed fears that the “recent development in Yendi is sending the signal that Dagbon is on a Time bomb”.

 

According to him, the position taken by the Bolin-lana was not different from the 2002 Fire Festival which led to the murder of the late Overlord of Dagbon, Ya-Na Yakubu Andani where he said the Abubus celebrated their festival at the Bolin-lana’s palace and it brought about tension in the area.

 

Mr. Daballi therefore called on the Bolin-lana not to do anything that would cause violence in Dagbon and also respect the orders of the security. He also cautioned the Andanis to celebrate the festival within the confines of the law in order not to create any tension.

 

The Chairman of the REGSEC, Moses Bukari Mabengba told Savannahnews in an interview that, the decision by the Bolin-lana and the Abudu family to celebrate the Damba Festival at a separate ground was “an attempt to dare the security”.

 

According to the REGSEC Chairman also the Regional Minister, the celebration of the Damba festival in Yendi at only the Gbewa Palace was instituted by the erstwhile New Patriotic Party government and had since been upheld by the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) from 2009 till date and that he did not see the substance in the agitations of the Abudus.

 

Mr. Mabengba insisted that the directive issued by the Security to the Abudus was in the interest of peace in Dagbon and that “nobody could dare or stop the security from exercising their duties in Yendi”.

 

“In other parts of Dagbon because there is no tension, chiefs can celebrate Damba at anywhere but as for Yendi, no one has the right to do so unless he or she joins the Regent at the Gbewa Palace and so it must remain. I am not the one to change any tradition or history because I know the sensitive nature of the Dagbon crisis, but it is my duty as a Minister to ensure total peace in the region”.

 

He said that the Security would continue to stay in Yendi until the three stages of the Damba was celebrated by the Kampakuya-na and his chiefs. 

 

However, one of the Spokespersons for the Abudu Gate (name withheld) in a telephone interview with Savannahnews maintained that the Abudus could not join the Kampakuya-na at the Gbewa Palace for the celebration because they did not recognize him as a “legitimate Regent of Dagbon as far as the roadmap is concerned” hence their decision to hold the celebration at a separate place.

 

He asserted that the Yendi Municipal Security Committee and the REGSEC did not write officially to the Bolin-lana and the entire Abudu family to inform them to join the Kampakuya-na for the celebration at the Gbewa Palace so that they could be sure of their safety and security, but rather held the announcement on some local radio stations restraining them from celebrating the Damba.

 

According to the Abudus Spokesperson, the Security came to the Boli-lana’s palace to harass and intimidate their supporters with the excuse of searching for weapons, and even ended up injuring two of their youth through firing of warning shots.

 

He further asserted that “even the so-called order restraining us from celebrating the Damba was only heard on radio which is quite unfortunate and demeaning.

 

On the other hand, the Kampakuya-na and the Andani Family according to the Deputy Northern Regional Police Commander, ACP Mathew Kojo Appiagyei would be provided with the needed security throughout the celebration as ordered by the REGSEC.

 

He revealed that the Abudus just like the Kampakuya-na did, was supposed to write to the REGSEC to inform them about their interest to celebrate the festival, but they failed to do so.

 

ACP Appiagyei therefore pleaded with all the people in Yendi to go about the celebration peacefully. 

 

Meanwhile, the Regent of Dagbon, Kampakuya-na Abdulai Yakubu Andani told Savannahnews that the Gbewa Palace was opened to all citizens of Dagbon to join the celebration and not for only the Andanis.

 

According to him, he was a Regent of Dagbon and not a Regent of the Andani family, hence he would expect all the people both the Andanis and the Abudus to come together this year to celebrate the Damba Festival in a grand style.  

 

The Regent also assured the entire nation of a peaceful celebration from Tuesday 29^th to Thursday 31^st January 2013.

Savelugu Orphanage Cries For Help

ANOTHER ORPHANAGE perceived to be the largest in the whole of the Northern Region has emerged in Savelugu with a total number of 145 orphans.

The children including 112 boys and 33 girls between the ages of one (1) and twelve (12) years were brought together by one Ibrahim Mohammed, a native of the area based in Saudi Arabia following the molestation, torture, starvation and maltreatment that was being given to the orphans by their respective guardians after the death of their parents. 

All the Children have lost both parents and were depending on relatives, who sometimes cared very little about what they eat, what they wear and even where they sleep- talk less of seeding them to school.

But Mr. Ibrahim Mohammed also a Philanthropist in somewhere 2007 mobilized resources of his own to buy a land and put up some structures to serve as a Home for the kids. He has since engaged some caretakers and teachers who offer free tuition to the children.

The facilities at the Home according our information was put up for only 33 children but the home is now receiving more orphans, which seems to worsen the condition at the home. Apart from the congestion in the dormitory and classrooms, all the facilities are deteriorating. 

Unfortunately, nobody ever heard of the existence of the Savelugu Children’s Home until one Madam Olivia Yakubu, the Northern Regional Women’s Organiser of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) visited the inmates through the instrumentality of one Tamale based reporter, Mohammed Gbindrigbum of the Ghanaian Observer  newspaper.

Madam Olivia Yakubu who was so touched by the plights of the kids, could not but to organize a mini-party for the orphans at her own expenses. The Plights of the over 145 orphans at the Savelugu Orphanage seem largely horrendous and require urgent attention from well wishes and compassionate individuals.

The Supervisor of the Savelugu Children’s Home, Nantogmah Abdulai told Madam Olivia Yakubu and the media that the children were being given free tuition, accommodation, feeding, uniforms and healthcare by Mr. Ibrahim Mohammed until 2009 when the Ghana Education Service (GES) decided to absorb the Home.

Things, according to him, had not been any better for the children and their caretakers. He said that several orphans who are undergoing traumas in the hands of their relatives had been identified, but could not be admitted into the Home due to lack of space.

Mr. Abdulai hinted that he had personally appealed to the Savelugu District Assembly to come to the aid of the Home or even register them on the National Health Insurance Scheme but to no avail.

He therefore called on the Assembly and for that matter the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) to establish poultry and crop farms on their remaining virgin land as a sustainable source of income to run the Home.   

One of the inmates, Ms Mohammed Farana 12 years told Savannahnews her dream is to become a Journalist to enable her speak better English and also serve as the voice for the less privileged in society.

According to her, before she was brought to the Home she was staying with her Auntie, who consistently tortured her and made her to sleep in the kitchen close to where some sheep and goats were being kept. “This made me to fall sick and my auntie and her husband refused to send me to the hospital. Later somebody told Mr. Ibrahim about me and he came to take me to hospital. When I was discharged, he asked me whether I want to go back to the house but I told him no and he led me to my auntie and told her he was going to take care of me henceforth and that is why I find myself here”. 

Little Farana believed that the only way she could save other young vulnerable persons from similar situation.

 However, Madam Olivia Yakubu appealed to other individuals to come to the aid of the kids and also assured them of using her position to lobby for more support for the children.

HEPATITIS B – A perilous liver disease that cannot be tolerated

Scientific evidence proves that the liver is the largest and hardest working organ in the body of every human. It performs over 500 functions daily to ensure sound and a well-balanced human health. The liver is derived from the word ‘live’ indicating life survives on the liver. The state of the liver has a direct bearing on human health and life expectancy. 

However, the liver isn't often the subject of much cocktail party conversation. People love to talk about their blood pressure level, cholesterol level, sugar level, body mass index and diet either at home, workplaces or wherever they meet as a group. But how often do you hear someone say, ‘My Liver Function Test looks good all the time.’

                                             

The liver gets very little recognition from the general public and is in fact, often abused by most people and especially modern diets and bad lifestyles.

According to some hepatologists, there is up to 99% chance your liver is not performing at its very best. In fact, this organ manufactures a full quart of bile daily to breakdown fat. It’s also responsible for filtering harmful toxins and substances out of nearly 100 gallons of blood daily and produces more than 13,000 crucial chemicals and hormones.

The liver is also responsible for regulating blood sugar levels, cholesterol, hormones and also stores essential vitamins and minerals. It is also responsible for detoxifying all internal and external environmental pollutants.

However, one must know that a number of diseases can afflict the human liver, including hepatitis –A form of liver inflammation; Liver cancer; Cirrhosis –chronic inflammation often caused by alcohol abuse, chronic hepatitis B and C; Diseases of the bile ducts and Fatty liver disease that can ultimately lead to liver failure. Having hepatitis means that the functions of the liver have been compromised and life expectancy is being reduced.

So, in the wake of increasing deaths emanating from the attack of for instance hepatitis B (the commonest liver disease) which can be acquired through various forms including (unprotected sex, transfusion of contaminated blood, body fluids, sharing of tooth brushes, contaminated needles and syringes and tattooing/tribal marking), this article brings to bear, the debilitating effects of the disease, how to seek treatment and what can be done to prevent further spread of the epidemic which if not tackled with a sense of urgency, could seriously compound the fight against HIV and AIDS! The truth is, an HIV or AIDS patient with hepatitis B has very little chance of surviving, according to medical doctors.

Causes of hepatitis

Hepatitis is most simply defined as an inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis has various causes.  According to different research outcomes, it can come from a viral infection, an attack by parasites, a transfusion of contaminated blood, or unhealthy substances that are introduced into the human body like alcohol, drugs, or toxins. Hepatitis may or may not be a serious health threat. However, hepatitis in certain circumstances can become chronic and can even lead to liver failure and death when it’s detected very late. Many laboratory investigations have revealed that there are several types of hepatitis, and they are given alphabetical names.

Types of hepatitis

Hepatitis A: It’s a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. It is generally spread by coming into contact with the faeces of an infected person. Hepatitis A is highly contagious, but it doesn't cause chronic liver disease. A vaccine for Hepatitis A is available.

Hepatitis B: It’s called serum hepatitis. Hepatitis B is a blood-borne viral disease caused by the hepatitis B virus or HBV and is one of the most common infectious diseases in the world. It can be acute or chronic. Most healthy adults (90%) who are infected will recover and develop protective antibodies against future hepatitis B infections. A small number (5-10%) will be unable to get rid of the virus and will develop chronic infections. Unfortunately, this is not true for infants and young children – 90% of infants and up to 50% of young children infected with hepatitis B will develop chronic infections. Therefore, vaccination is essential to protect infants and children. The virus is passed from an infected person to another through blood and body fluids like semen and breast milk. Symptoms of the disease may include tiredness, nausea and stomach pain and weight loss. They also can include not feeling hungry or feeling pain in the joints. In some people, the skin and eyes may become yellow. A person’s urine may be dark coloured and the stools or bowel movement may be whitish. Only about 30 percent of people with hepatitis B have any symptoms. A vaccine for Hepatitis B is available and can protect one up to ten years.

Hepatitis C: It’s a liver disease caused by the Hepatitis C Virus or HCV. HCV infection sometimes results in an acute symptomatic illness. It can range in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, lifelong chronic condition that can lead to cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer. Unlike HBV which is transmitted sexually and through other means, HCV is only transmitted through contact with the blood of an infected person. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), about 130 – 170 million people are chronically infected with HCV, and more than 350,000 people die from hepatitis C-related liver diseases each year. HCV infection is curable using increasingly effective antivirals. Despite ongoing research, there is currently no vaccine to prevent HCV infection. It is estimated that 3 – 4 million people are infected with HCV each year. HCV infection is found worldwide. Countries with high rates of chronic infection are Egypt (22%), Pakistan (4.8%) and China (3.2%). The main mode of transmission in these countries is attributed to unsafe injections using contaminated equipment. There is no vaccine to prevent Hepatitis C.

Hepatitis D: It’s caused by the Hepatitis D virus. The Hepatitis D virus needs the Hepatitis B virus to survive. Sometimes people with Hepatitis B also get Hepatitis D because both are passed from one person to the other through blood and body fluids. 

Hepatitis E: This is caused by the Hepatitis E virus. Similar to the hepatitis A virus, it is spread by coming into contact with the faeces of an infected person. 

Hepatitis G: Not much is known about the Hepatitis G virus or even if it causes illness. It may be transmitted through contaminated blood in blood transfusions. 

However, medical doctors advice persons who suspect they have any of the types of hepatitis, to go to an approved medical laboratory/hospital for samples of their blood to be taken for a test. When the test result is reactive or positive, your medical doctor will ask you to do what is called viral load; (Viral load is the amount of virus in the blood). A lesser amount of virus means there is less risk for serious liver disease. If the results of the viral load test shows you have more virus, you may be asked to do a liver function test to determine how healthy your liver is before any treatment is given to you depending on how serious your case may be. A person with HBV is given some of the most effective drugs (lamivudine, lyvomyn, heptovit, interferon and antivirals) for the treatment of the disease. But if the laboratory test result for the disease is non-reactive or negative, you will be asked to take the hepatitis B vaccine for protection. However, HBV cannot be spread by casual contact, such as holding hands, sharing eating utensils or drinking glasses, breast-feeding, kissing, hugging, coughing, or sneezing.

A recent survey conducted by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana revealed that an estimated 4 million people in Ghana have HBV. It is imperative therefore, to create nationwide awareness about the importance of the liver and its implications on the health of mankind. It is important to note that, a liver problem like HBV is dangerous – and if government is not alarmed, it is certain that it is waiting for a major epidemic explosion or health disaster. 

Steps government should immediately consider

The government through the Ghana Health Service (GHS) should immediately embark on a free nationwide vaccination of persons who have not yet been infected with the HBV and also make available vaccines at the various public hospitals across the country for newly born babies to be vaccinated. The disease should be taken care of like other diseases such as HIV and AIDS, malaria, CSM, guinea worm, and among others, coupled with public education in the electronic media. Anything short of this means that the 4 million figure is bound to increase astronomically in the next few years.  

Treatment of HBV is very costly than HIV. In fact, the cheapest drugs one can get for the treatment of the disease include lamivudine, lyvomyn, heptovit, among others needed to be taken every month and perhaps for a lifetime. The most effective treatment could cost as much as between GH¢5,000.00 and GH¢10,000.00. Thus, government should seriously consider including some of the medications or treatment of HBV in the National Health Insurance Scheme.

Besides, the GHS should conduct extensive research on HBV which is the commonest liver disease currently in the system so as to determine the number of persons living with the virus so that an effective policy by government could be rolled out towards its fight or eradication. This is because several laboratory results in private and public health institutions indicate that many people have contracted the disease.

Furthermore, the GHS should consider establishing something similar to the Ghana AIDS Commission and charge it with the mandate and responsibility of controlling or fighting the disease nationwide.

Meanwhile, W.H.O global projections suggest that 10-30 million people will become infected each year by HBV, while an estimated 1 million people will also die each year from the disease and its complications. Approximately 2 people die each minute from HBV. Having Hepatitis B means that your liver is not hundred percent functional and life expectancy thus reduces at a very fast spate. 

Tamale Nachimba: Enough Of The Persistent Indiscipline

Amongst all the conflict or security hotspots in Ghana, Tamale is perhaps the hottest spot. The one time cleanest city in the country is now one of the dirtiest environs or suburbs in the North. Sorry to say, that Tamale boasts of a greater percentage of the country’s most intolerable youth. The youth [nachimba, in Dagbani] of this city, by all standards, top the list of vandals nationwide. Statistics of teenage pregnancies/mothers, prostitution in all forms as well as internet scam in recent times is also on the increase in Tamale. 

In fact, all manner of negativities are gradually being associated with Tamale. Therefore, one is right to conclude without hesitation that this historic city is the most indiscipline or lawless place in mother Ghana. After all, is it not the late Northern Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party Alhaji Abukari Sumani who once said reportedly that “The only law that works in Tamale is man for not enter woman en bathroom and woman for not enter man en bathroom.” 

But, is that the best compliment for a largely religious city like Tamale to carve for itself? Please, enough of the indiscipline or lawlessness persistently being perpetuated by the youth of Tamale!

What am I driving at? Just last week, specifically on the dusk of Thursday January 17, 2012, a youth group of the ruling NDC in Tamale outrageously burnt down and destroyed almost every signboard and billboard as well as other party paraphernalia that bore the portrait of the leader of their party and President of the Republic of Ghana H.E John Dramani Mahama.  

Any reasons why this happened after the country managed to pull off a very peaceful general election few weeks ago without any mayhem in Tamale of all places? The answer is, they were peeved because the President refused to appoint Haruna Iddrisu, legislator of Tamale South Constituency and outgoing Minister for Communications as the Minister for Energy and Petroleum, following mere rumours that he [Haruna] was tipped for that job.

Haruna Iddrisu, MP

According to this so called NDC youth group, Haruna shored up the votes of President Mahama in Tamale to enable him win the December 7, 2012 presidential election and instead of him rewarding his effort, he [the president] decided to heed to the shallow threat of the Western Regional House of Chiefs, that they would not approve of anyone as the Minister of Energy and Petroleum unless one of their own –something Kofi Buah (forgotten of his full name) is appointed to protect their interest in the oil resource which is being extracted in their region. 

Many people including me believed and still believe that the gentleman who has now been handed the job of Minister of Energy and Petroleum [Kofi Buah] ran to those chiefs and wrongfully influenced them to come out and yell out threats to the President to get him  nominated. I also believe that Haruna wrongfully influenced the Tamale youth to do what they did last week in order to get him nominated for a ministerial post. But, is that the right way to go when it comes to lobbying for positions or jobs? Hell no! 

Besides, doesn’t the constitution of Ghana states it clear that any natural resource located in any part of the country, whether on the surface of the earth, beneath it or in the sea, belongs to all Ghanaians in totality? Or, is Kofi Buah the only qualified Ghanaian from the Western Region that can occupy the position of the Energy and Petroleum Ministry? Now some tribes including Fantes who I understand constitute the major ethnic group in that region is reportedly peeved with the way and manner the Awulaes of Nzemaland have conducted themselves. I believe Dr. Kwame Nkrumah of blessed memory who came from that area is by now turning in his grave because of this development. For President Nkrumah never stood for such behaviours which could best be termed as unpatriotic. 

Similarly, I want to ask whether Haruna Iddrisu is the only qualified indigene from Dagbon that should be treated special? Is he the only intellectual from Tamale who by his association with the NDC has been able to rise to the top as former National Organiser and Minister for Communications? I have gathered that he is eyeing the Presidency in future. If that is anything to go by, he should better advise those youth of Tamale who owe allegiance to him, otherwise he’ll see Canaan but his legs will not carry him there. President Mahama until his ascendancy to the presidency was not associating himself with louts as he [Haruna] is currently doing.   

Indeed, in the last seven years of my stay in Tamale as a practicing journalist, I’ve come to realized that the youth of the NDC idolize their legislators and renew their term of office on the basis that they are vociferous on the floor of parliament anytime they get up to speak. Isn’t that too petty? So even if vociferous means senseless, it’s passable.  

For God sake, Haruna was elected to go to parliament and represent the people of Tamale South as a lawmaker and not to be appointed minister. He was privileged and I repeat, privileged to be appointed as Communications Minister under the Mills-Mahama Administration from 2009 to 2012. He wasn’t so special, and neither was he super intelligent to be considered for that job. Besides, what will those who think that it is now their turn to also serve in the Mahama-Amissah-Arthur Administration do when eventually they are not appointed? Should they go and burn the Gulf of Guinea? Hell no! 

I hear Haruna has since come out to apologise on behalf of those uninitiated youth who succeeded in soiling his reputation for him. He should know by now, that appointments to ministerial portfolios are at the discretion of the President even though he does consult other groups and officialdoms. Seriously, if I were Haruna I wouldn’t have accepted the nomination for Minister for Trade and Industry since it will not add any honour to his reputation, considering the portentous circumstances under which it came. 

Kofi Buah, MP

As for Kofi Buah, the least said about him, the better. He has succeeded through his chiefs to get nominated, but failure to achieve good results will forever seal future opportunities that could have come the way of other Westerners who are more capable than him. Besides, he should know that when he finally gets the approval of parliament, he will not dance to the tune of the Western Regional House of Chiefs but the President of the republic who calls the shots.    

Nonetheless, President Mahama should be praised so far for not appointing any member of his tribe or family member. This means that no one should view him as a president elected to serve only a particular group of people, but Ghanaians as a whole. This also doesn’t mean that there are no qualified people or intellectuals in Gonjaland. But what it means is that, Gonjas are being patient and waiting for what will be given to them by their son at the appropriate time, and that is what is expected of all Northerners, not demonstrations or violent protest.

For President Mahama, I say be careful the way you’ve started allowing interested groups like the Western Regional House of Chiefs to twist your hands and tell you how you ought to do your work. So far, majority of Ghanaians have commended you for the quality of your appointees. But for the coup d’état, former President Hilla Limann would have done better. So now that you are on the seat as the second Northern President in almost four decades, all your Northern brothers and sisters are expecting you to leave a positive indelible mark by the time you finish your term of office. Please Mr. President, leave us a legacy that will forever be remembered in our oral history.

To the youth of Northern Ghana especially those in Tamale, our attitude and actions now will determine how we will end in life in the future. Don’t be surprised if you apply for a job somewhere in the country either than Tamale, and you’re denied it although you may have the qualification. I am saying this because, some of us [youth] are being denied job opportunities and other privileges simply because of where we come from. Can you imagine attending a job interview one day only for you to hear later on that you were denied the job because you’re a resident or native of Tamale and therefore, they [employers] think you might be a violent person?