General News of Wednesday, 16 August 2000

Source: JoyFM

Nanumba Traditional Council places ban on record dances

The Nanumba Traditional Council has placed an indefinite ban on record dance activities in schools and public places to stem the growing incidence of youth misbehavior in the area.

The move according to the Regent and Acting President of the Council, Vo-Na Attah Abarika is to check the indulgence of the youth in drug abuse, promiscuity and violence, which characterize such occasions.

Vo-Na Abarika told the Ghana News Agency at Bimbilla that the council had received several complaints from parents, teachers and other concerned citizens about the negative impact of such activities on the young people. The council therefore invited the promoters of record dances to discuss the issue and to find ways of eliminating their negative influence but the situation did not change. He said the rising incidence of teenage pregnancies, violence among rival youth groups, and low academic standards in the area are all the direct result of the permissive lives of young persons. Vo-Na Abarika said record dance is not part of the tradition and culture of the people adding that in its place cultural dances at weddings baby out-doorings and other indigenous social functions would be encouraged.

He said the traditional council would institute a development fund to support education and the general development of the area. Mr. Adam Marshall Natogmah, Principal of Bimbilla Training College welcomed the ban and said it would enable the children stick to their books and also reduce the violent clashes among rival groups. Mr. Emmanuel A. Guman registrar of the traditional council said the ban would not only minimize the moral degeneration of the youth but also bring about cultural re-awakening. Man with human parts placed in custody Kwamina Andoh, a 35 year-old second-hand clothes dealer from Enyan Maim, who allegedly offered human parts for sale has been placed in custody by the Nkwantanum police.

Sergeant Kweku Anim speaking to the GNA at Breman Essiam said that he led a team of four servicemen upon a tip-of to Essiam and arrested the suspect in the act of offering a human ankle thigh and hands for sale to a Fetish Priest, Kwaku Abeka Sebi. He said that investigations are continuing and the suspect would be put before court when they are completed.