Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara has expressed admiration for Ghana’s role in leading African countries towards independence.

He made these remarks at an event commemorating Ghana’s 67th Independence Day in Koforidua, Eastern Region.

He lauded Ghana’s efforts in maintaining the honour and pride of its independence and recognized the shared history, friendship, and culture between Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire.

The event, under the theme “Our Democracy Our Pride,” was held at the newly inaugurated 5,000-seater Koforidua Youth Resource Center.

“What a beautiful celebration, bravo to all the Ghanaian people. On this special occasion, congratulations from the people of Cote D’Ivoire who are your brothers and sisters. It’s a great pleasure for me to be here today with you and the great people of Ghana. To experience once more the legendary hospitality of Ghana.

“Ghana and Cote D’Ivoire are bound not only by geography but also by history, friendship and culture. It’s a great joy for me to be sent here by my dear friend Nana [President Akufo-Addo] to celebrate Ghana and the citizens of this beautiful and wonderful country. Whose, since 1957 has shown the way to independence, dignity and pride. Congratulations on the period, it was indeed beautiful and outstanding.”

President Ouattara praised President Akufo-Addo’s leadership since 2016, despite global challenges.

“I would like to use this opportunity to commend you for your leadership and many achievements in Ghana despite the adverse challenges at the global level, with COVID-19, Ukraine-Russia war, obviously Gaza-Palestina,” he said.

He also lauded President Akufo-Addo’s exceptional performance during his term as ECOWAS President.

“I would like to commend you for your commitment towards regional integration shown during your tenure as President of ECOWAS. I must say you did an exceptional, outstanding job. And as the other heads of state know I wanted you to continue for many years.”

The Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo, has expressed concern with the contributions of women or mothers in Ghana’s National Pledge.

Adwoa Safo contends that the inclusion of the clause “through the toils of our fathers” in the National Pledge without mentioning mothers underplays the role women played in Ghana’s independence struggle.

She describes the omission as gender-insensitive and charged Parliament and the relevant stakeholders to take a look at it and make the necessary amendments if needed.

“The National Pledge talks about ‘through the blood and toils of our fathers’ and omits mothers, but the mothers also toiled for this country, and I think it is gender-insensitive. Even when we are making a reference to the country, we call it our motherland, but when it comes to the National Pledge, and we are referring to the struggles and toils, we omit our mothers, and I want to draw your attention to it so we look at it as a country so that we become more gender-sensitive when it comes to our National Pledge.”

The Dome-Kwabenya lawmaker raised the concern on the back of the implementation of a new provision that requires parliamentarians to recite the National Pledge before each session commences.

The implementation of the new standing orders on February 6 also requires heads of state of institutions to directly appear before Parliament to address queries related to their agencies.

The President of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs, Osagyefo Osaedeeyo Agyeman Badu II has announced the suspension of the Berekum Traditional Council from the activities of the House.

Speaking at an annual end of year review meeting, the president said the decision comes with the collective endorsement of seven members of the house.

“As we sit here today, seven of us who are chiefs in this Bono Region namely Drobohene, Nsokohene Dwinimhene, Wenchihene, Kwaatsomanhene, Sumaahene and myself Dormaahene and the people of Bono have resolved that from henceforth we have nothing to do with Berekum in terms of activities in this house until they find a way to tell us something reasonable,” he stated.

Explaining the reasoning behind the decision, Dormaahene said the suspension is in connection with an injunction initiated by the Berekum Traditional Council which restrained him from attending the recent funeral of the late Berekumhene Daasebre Dr Amankona Diawuo II.

According to him, the suspension of Berekum from the Bono Regional House of Chiefs will stand until the Council provides a better explanation to the court action.

A Sunyani High Court on Wednesday (Nov 22), restrained Dormaahene from attending the funeral on Thursday, Nov 23, since it could lead to the breach of the peace.

The order followed an application brought before the court by a member of the Berekum Traditional Council, Osabarima Kyere Yeboah Darteh II.

According to the applicant, the decision by Dormaahene to attend the funeral on Thursday, the same day the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu was scheduled to attend the funeral could lead to the breach of peace in the area.

The planning committee of the funeral had scheduled for Dormaahene to attend the funeral on Wednesday while noting that Otumfuo traditionally is the last person to attend the burial of a Berekumhene since the Berekumhene owes allegiance to the Golden Stool – Asanteman.