The St. Peter Anglican Cathedral, Diocese of Koforidua in the Eastern Region, installed former President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo as a Lay Canon of the Church on Sunday, March 22.

A lay canon is a non-ordained person given an honorary title, usually recognizing leadership in some aspect of the Church’s life, such as in Anglican dioceses.

The installation ceremony involves the bishop formally appointing the lay canon.

While lay canons do not exercise clerical powers (like presiding at Holy Communion), they may serve on the cathedral chapter, advise the bishop, and represent the church’s image.

Speaking to Journalists, the Anglican Bishop of the Koforidua Diocese,  Right Reverend Felix Odei Annancy said that  Nana Addo is an Anglican member and the Church saw the need to honor and appreciate him for contributing to the growth of the church as well as serving the nation as former President.

“It is good to honor someone alive so that the person can witness such a memorable day, enabling them to feel that their efforts, sacrifices, contributions, and commitment have been recognized while they are alive, rather than doing that for them when they are no more,” he revealed.

Rt. Rev. Odei Annancy further said he believes that former President Akufo-Addo will use his experience to help his colleagues lay canons in a diverse way of running and managing the affairs of the Church.

Former President Nana Addo thanked the Church for recognizing his contributions and efforts towards the development of the Church and honoring him.

He reaffirmed his commitment to continuing to serve the church with humility and integrity to lift up the image of the church to a high esteem.

By// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.

Source// Obohnewsonline.com.

The Atiwa East District Assembly in the Eastern Region has launched and distributed 10,000 broilers, known as Nkoko Nkitinkiti, to residents in the area, urging beneficiaries to make good use of the programme.

The Nkoko Nkitinkiti programme aims at bringing back the rearing of local chickens for home consumption.

This programme was initiated by President John Dramani Mahama to encourage Ghanaians to patronize local chickens instead of foreign ones.

Speaking at the programme, District Chief Executive of the Assembly, Ernest Owusu Ntim, urged beneficiaries not to let President Mahama down, stating that state funds were used to purchase the broilers for the free distribution to ensure it meets its purpose.

Mr. Owusu Ntim stated that the beneficiaries of the first phase were chiefs, assembly members, the clergy, driver unions, MPs, security agencies, and market women in Atiwa East District.

He indicated that this is the first phase of the programme, but the second phase will include poultry farmers who would want to rear them in large quantities.

The Asamang Tamfoehene, Osaberima Kwame Koh, thanked the government for considering the health of its citizens and introducing such a programme to reduce the importation of foreign chickens into the country, which is often associated with diseases.

He stated that after rearing them, when it is time for consumption, they should be given to children to help them grow well, adding that excessive meat consumption at age 40 and above may not be good for one’s health if one wants to live long

By// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.

Source// Obohnewsonline.com.

The Oyokohene in the New Juaben Traditional Area of the Eastern Region, Nana Osei Bonsu Sempeh II, has commended the SOS Foundation for its initiative to provide free registration, renewal, and replacement services under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

The SOS Foundation has voluntarily enrolled residents of the New Juaben North Municipal area into the NHIS, allowing them to access medical services at any health centre nationwide when they fall ill.

Since launching this program on March 3, 2026, over 1,500 individuals from Asokore, Effiduase, and Oyoko communities have benefited.

During the community’s exercise in Oyoko, Nana Bonsu Sempeh II emphasized that health is essential for daily activities.

He referenced traditional oaths of allegiance, which include the commitment to avoid illness, illustrating the importance of good health for everyone.

“If SOS Foundation based in New Juaben North Municipality is doing free registration, renewal, and replacement of NHIS for the people to allow them to go to the hospital for medical check-ups for free to know their health status, it is a good call, and we will rally behind them to sustain the Foundation so that they can assist others who also need help,” he hinted.

The Assemblyman for the Gyamfikrom electoral area, Daniel Kankam Twumasi stated that the SOS Foundation is transforming lives in the New Juaben North Municipal Assembly, a move that influenced him to embrace and support the exercise, noting that NHIS is important for every Ghanaian.

He also indicated that the government has paid all NHIS arrears to health centres; therefore, everyone should take advantage of the free registration, as it is beneficial in many ways when seeking medical treatment.

For his part, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of the SOS Foundation, Samuel Osei Sarkodie, popularly known as SOS, thanked the Oyokohene Nana Osei Bonsu Sempeh II for recognizing their efforts to support residents of New Juaben North.

SOS, who serves as the Youth Organizer for the New Patriotic Party in New Juaben North constituency, assured the traditional leader of the Foundation’s commitment to continue empowering the youth to develop their potential and contribute to the community’s growth, development, and progress.

By// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.

Source// Obohnewsonline. com.

The Ghana National Association of Teachers’ Ladies Society (GNATLAS), located in the New Juaben block of the Eastern Region, commemorated International Women’s Day on Friday, March 13, at GNAT Hall in Galloway to celebrate the hardworking Ghanaian women, particularly female teachers. 

According to the association, women have, been the backbone of national progress and development over the decades, and therefore deserve fair treatment across all sectors. 

International Women’s Day is observed globally on March 8 each year in recognition of the efforts and contributions of women worldwide. 

The 2026 celebration was marked under the theme: “Give To Gain, Balance The Scale.” 

Speaking to Kontihen Kofi Oboh, the Coordinator of the New Juaben GNATLAS block, Grace Asantewaa Okyere commended President John Dramani Mahama for appointing Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang as Ghana’s first female Vice President. 

“Others include Patience Baffoe Bonnie as the Director General of Prisons, Danielle Mawusi Ntow Sarpong as the Chief Fire Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service, and Lydia Yaako Donkor as Director General of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service, and this demonstrates his commitment to empower women,” she mentioned. 

Ms. Asantewaa Okyere further called on the government, led by President Mahama, to continue supporting women and to help address the gender equality gap. 

The New Juaben North Municipal Education Director, Hilda Amegatcher, also emphasized the role of women in nurturing children to become productive citizens who contribute meaningfully to national development. 

“A lot of women in Ghana today engage in different jobs to get money to support their husbands in taking care of their children because they have realized that men go through a lot of challenges, hence their assistance to reduce their burden, which is why they have to be celebrated to let them know their relentless efforts are recognized,” she opined.

By// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.

Source// Obohnewsonline.com.

The Presiding Member of the Atiwa East District Assembly in the Eastern Region, Abraham Kofi Nyarko, has pledged to champion the welfare of Assembly members in the area.

He made the promise following his re-election for the second time to lead the Assembly.

Mr. Nyarko secured 100% of the total votes to retain his seat, enabling him to continue his good work for the Assembly.

Speaking to Kontihen Kofi Oboh, after his re-election, the Presiding Member reiterated his continued commitment to colleagues Assembly Members, particularly their welfare.

He said the welfare administration instituted in the District aimed to offer financial assistance to his colleagues after bringing their service to an end and may need the Assembly’s support when encountering difficult situations at home.

The Presiding Member emphatically stated that his vision is to help the Assembly succeed by seeing all the 16 electoral areas within the District developed.

Mr. Nyarko added that every mining community suffers from teenage pregnancy cases among the young girls.

“Myself, the Member of Parliament for the constituency, Abena Osei Asare, and Ernest Owusu Ntim, the District Chief Executive of the Assembly are working tirelessly to curb the menace,” he hinted.

He further said that combating teenage pregnancy is a shared responsibility; therefore calling on Ghanaians to join forces to educate the girls to avoid giving birth at an early age and pay much attention to their education.

The Presiding Member used the occasion to commend and appreciate all the 22 Assembly Members who overwhelmingly endorsed him for the second consecutive time and pledged to serve them with truth and honesty so that together they will build Atiwa District Assembly.

Source// Obohnewsonline.com.

By// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.

The Tontro community in the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area of the Eastern Region has welcomed a new chief, five years after the passing of Nana Appiah Kubi.

Nana Brako Sarpong has been installed as Tontrohene and is poised to spearhead infrastructure development in the community.

The Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, delegated the Tafohene, Osaberima Adusei Peasah, to perform the traditional rites and customs to formally install Nana Brako Sarpong as the new ruler of Tontro.

In his address, Osaberima Adusei Peasah bemoaned the negative impact of the prolonged chieftaincy dispute on the development of the community.

He noted that some individuals exploited the situation and misbehaved, which compelled him to intervene and facilitate the installation of a new chief to restore peace and stability.

The Tafohene further admonished the people of Tontro to work assiduously with their new chief to ensure progress and unity.

Community members, speaking to Kontihen Kofi Oboh, expressed excitement over the installation and appealed to Nana Brako Sarpong to lobby for developmental projects to rebuild Tontroman.

On his part, the Etukromhene, Barimah Etu Adomako, observed that whenever a stool becomes vacant, every royal in the family aspires to occupy it, but ultimately only one person is chosen.

He used the opportunity and entreated all factions to rally behind Nana Brako Sarpong to uplift the image of Tontroman.

By// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.

Source// Obohnewsonline.com.

The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Suhum, in the Eastern Region, celebrated International Women’s Day on Wednesday, March 11, to appreciate women for their unflinching support towards the country’s development.

International Women’s Day is observed globally on March 8 each year to recognize the efforts and contributions of hardworking women across the world.

The 2026 International Women’s Day was marked under the theme: “Give To Gain, Balance The Scale.”

Speaking at the program as the Guest Speaker, Suhum Mankrado Ankobeahemaa, Nana Akosua Korang Larbi I, mentioned that women should be uplifted and given platforms to amplify their voices, as they determine the destiny of every country.

“If women are given an equal opportunity in decision-making it will help in many ways because their key objective is to see the country prospering and transforming lives,” she lamented.

Touching on this year’s theme, she mentioned that “Give to Gain” is simple yet profound, stating that it reminds us that true progress is not built on selfishness, but on generosity. It tells us that when we give our time,  knowledge, and support, we do not lose; instead, we gain dignity, unity, and shared prosperity. 

“Give to Gain” is not only about material gifts but it is about giving voice to the voiceless, giving justice to the marginalized, and giving hope to the discouraged. In doing so, we gain a society that is fair, inclusive, and strong,” she noted. 

Nana Hemaa Korang Larbi I further stated that, on this International Women’s Day, we should remember that when we give, we do not diminish ourselves but rather expand our humanity, gaining unity-

She further said, a teacher who gives knowledge gains respect and a legacy, a woman who gives love gains a family’s strength, and a community that gives opportunities gains development. 

The Suhum Mankrado Ankobeahemaa then called on over 200 people who attended the program to think of one way they can give today to change someone’s life.

“Perhaps it is mentoring a young girl, supporting a colleague, or simply offering encouragement and stressing that imagine the ripple effect if every person here gave just one act of kindness,” opined Nana Korang Larbi I.

By// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.

Source// Obohnewsonline.com.

The Mobile Telephone Network (MTN) Ghana has launched the Self-Service Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) swap in Koforidua, the capital of the Eastern Region.

This initiative will give freedom to Ghanaians to allow them to replace their lost SIM cards on their own without trooping to their service centers for assistance.

“SIM swap remains a major reason for customers engaging with us, both digitally and in person. On average, we process about 250,000 SIM swaps at our customer service centres every month.

“At MTN Ghana, we believe in innovating and delivering services that enhance the experience of our customers. That is why today, with great pride, we officially announce the nationwide launch of our Self-Service SIM Swap,” the telco company noted.

Speaking at the short ceremony held at their office in Koforidua, the General Manager at MTN Ghana responsible for Sales and Distribution, David Gyimah Boadi, stated that before the launch, they conducted a pilot using their App and Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) channels from October last year through January this year.

In just four months, over 18,000 customers have completed SIM swaps on their own or via assisted options at their branch.

He indicated that beyond convenience, security remains central to this innovation.

“Our self-service SIM Swap uses advanced biometric facial verification, ensuring that only the rightful owner can request a swap,” he explained.

Mr. Gyimah believes that this significantly reduces fraud and protects against risks associated with cloned or compromised ID cards, giving their customers true peace of mind.

By// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.

Source// Obohnewsonline.com.

The SOS Foundation based in New Juaben North Municipal Assembly of Eastern Region has extended its free National Health Insurance card registration, renewal and replacement to residents of the Effiduase community.

The first edition of registration was held at Asokore where over 700 people were registered. However, they targeted registering about 800 people in Effiduase.

The Foundation believes that good health is wealth, therefore all communities in New Juaben North will benefit from the programme.

Speaking to Kontihen Kofi Oboh, Chief Executive Officer of foundation, Samuel Osei Sarkodie, popularly known as SOS, described the National Health Insurance card as first aid for everybody.

He explained that those who have NHIS cards are at an advantageous point than those who do not have it because they have to pay for services before they would be taken care of.

He added that the Health Insurance card opens the door for one to go to hospital for medical care when unwell.

Samuel Osei Sarkodie, who doubles as Youth Organizer for New Patriotic Party in New Juaben North, hinted that for this reason his foundation has taken it upon itself to register residents of the area to enable them to go to hospital for medical treatment when they are sick.

He indicated that when they are done with New Juaben North, the foundation will move to the other 32 Municipal and District Assemblies in the region to enroll residents because they want everybody to have access to medical care.

He further said, ‘We can only go about our daily activity when we are healthy which is why former President John Agyekum Kufuor implemented the National Health Insurance Scheme and it helped many people in the country.’

SOS urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the cards received and pledged to renew all cards that will expire next year.

Some beneficiaries speaking with Kontihen Kofi Oboh expressed their gratitude to the SOS Foundation for its benevolence.

By// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.

Source// Obohnewsonline.com.

The Kibi Presbyterian College of Education in the Abuakwa South Municipal Assembly of the Eastern Region celebrated its 63rd anniversary in grand style.

The Principal of the institution, Rev. Charles Fosu-Ayarkwah, stated that 63 years ago the Government of Ghana, through the Ministry of Education, the leadership of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, and the Okyenhene came together and decided to turn an old basic school building into a college of education. Since then, it has shaped many people’s lives and they have also positively impacted the growth and development of the country.

He explained that in celebrating such a milestone, the college’s management utilized the opportunity to organize the teacher trainees and teach them how various healthy local dishes are prepared.

Rev. Fosu-Ayarkwah added that the rationale behind this was to bring back the real Ghanaian delicious foods so that when they graduate from the institution, they will be able to teach their learners and enable them to appreciate the local dishes.

Rev. Ayarkwa maintained that this forms part of the institution’s 63rd anniversary commemoration to promote the Ghanaian delicacies to the world.

He expressed worry about how some citizens of the country are opting for foreign foods instead of Ghanaian foods, such as mpesi with kontomire stew, fufu with palm nut soup, banku or akple with okra stew, aprepresa, and roasted plantain, among others.

Rev. Charles Fosu-Ayarkwah then advised Ghanaians, especially parents, to cook the local dishes in their homes to enable their children to learn how to eat them because these foods are healthier than the noodles they are eating.

“Our forefathers ate the local dishes, and they lived long, which is essential to go back for them and shun the foreign foods because it is not good for our health,” he revealed

By// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.

Source// Obohnewsonline.com.