By Anthony Adongo Apubeo
Bolgatanga, Feb 6, GNA – Professor Samuel Atintono, President of the Principals of Colleges of Education (PRINCOF) has clarified that giving money to drummers and praise singers during social functions was part of the culture and tradition of some tribes in Northern Ghana.
Professor Atintono stated particularly that the tradition and culture of the Frafra people in the Upper East Region required one to give money to drummers and especially praise singers during social events to show appreciation, shower praises and invoke leadership and therefore giving money to such people could not be seen as show of wealth.
Professor Atintono who is also the National President of the Bolgatanga, Nabdam, Bongo and Tongo (BONABOTO), an advocacy organisation, made these clarifications in an interview with the Ghana News Agency following some media reports alleging that Mr Donatus Atanga Akamugri, the Upper East Regional Minister was “spraying cash to supporters” during his welcome durbar in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region.
In a video clip, circulating on social media, the Regional Minister was seen dipping his hand once into breast pocket to throw some money to drummers and praise singers who welcomed him after his appointment to the region while he was on top of his vehicle.
Professor Atintono explained drummers and praise singers in the Frafra culture were not paid, however, during functions, it was mandatory and traditional that some small money be given them while they were performing by placing the monies on their foreheads.
“The Regional Minister could not come down from his car to give the money to the drummers and that was why he threw the money to them. It happened only once and that cannot be termed as spraying”, he stated.
He explained that during events such as funerals and other political events of such nature, sympathisers often offered the bereaved and any person involved in the activity some money and the culture and tradition required that such money be given to the drummers in public for everyone to see “that was what the regional minister did”.
He said apart from the fact that it was part of the culture and tradition of the Frafra people, it was also a form of showing appreciation to the drummers and praise singers.
“For me, I think the issue was over exaggerated and people misinterpreted it out of context because he needed to do that to fulfill the culture and tradition of the people and so there was nothing wrong with what he did”, he stressed.
Professor Atintono urged the media not to sensationalise issues of such nature and endeavour to put them in proper context to reflect their true meaning.
Professor Atintono urged all stakeholders to instead focus on playing critical roles to support the Regional Minister to drive the needed development and bring relief to the people in the region.
Naba Baba Salifu Atamale Lemyaarum, Paramount Chief of the Bongo Traditional Area indicated that the Regional Minister was only fulfilling the customs and culture of the people where he was born.
He said the action of the minister was part of their culture which was to give small money to the drummers and singers to appreciate them and urged the public to disregard any report that seemed to suggest that he was “spraying money”.
GNA