Indigenous Seeds Oil from Our Local Environment

Minyela Sylvester CEO Minsaap Ventures

Adam was created by God and kept in a garden signifying that, all man needs to survived and stay healthy is the environment. 

It is against this backdrop that, a 42-year-old businessman and a 2010 graduate from the University for Development Studies (UDS) with the knowledge in his development studies and a passion for studying natural things, had to delve into natural seed oil extraction. 

Sylvester Minyila is now a friend to every pod that a tree or plant can bear not only for the benefits the fruits can provide for our health, but the seed which unknowing to us has a rich natural oil that can treat numerous ailments. 

These fruits and pods abounds in our environment especially in the northern parts of Ghana. 

The Boabab tree hitherto unknown to most natives, has a lot of benefits. Aside the leave being used for soup, the dry Boabab fruit is use for porridge and TZ.  

The various seeds oils

The seeds are the main component use together with beans, round powder beans and flour to prepare a local dish call ‘tuunto’ a major meal in the performance of traditional funerals in the Bolgatanga Municipality (BM) (the Gurune speaking area).  

The core of the seeds that contain that groundnuts like substance is also use for soup especially vegetables but that is mostly during famine period. In fact, history has it that, in August 1982 – May 1983 famine in Ghana, the (BM) and its adjoining communities relied mostly on the Boabab tree leaves and the seed for survival. 

Baobab seed oil

Expert say, the Boabab seed oil is generally known for its regenerative abilities.

 Its excellent in skin softening and healing of any imperfection due to its antioxidants and solves most of the health problems. In an interview with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Minsaap Ventures Sylvester Minyila indicated that, after extracting the oil, the residue of the Boabab seed becomes animal feed in effect, nothing of Boabab is useless. 

He stated that, Boabab Seed Oil contains Vitamins A, B and C along Omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids, Magnesium Potassium and Calcium. 

Baobab powder and Pumkin seeds 

He added that, similar nutrients and vitamins are contained in Pawpaw, neem, Pumkin and kenaf seed oils, and plays a similar role in the enhancement of the health of people daily. 

The seed oil extractor

Regarding job creation, Minsaap Ventures has employed 8 direct staff, 8 temporal staff to handle the separation, milling and extraction plants as well as the packaging and labeling .and about two hundred and 87 indirect employees that is those rural poor who gather the raw materials from the Boabab, Neem, pumkin, kenaf seeds and sell them to Minsaap Ventures, Pawpaw seeds from the pawpaw daily venders. 

 

Minsaap Ventures has in a way provided some form of income generation for the vulnerable in some rural communities. 

Some products of Minsaap Ventures ‘are certified by the Food and Drugs Authority. Mr. Minyila stated that, his intention of expanding the venture into a bigger factory.

Story by: Emmanuel Akayeti

UE/R Kukula the river god in perspective –KNWD

This is the front part entering in to Kukula the River God ( the scene is feathers from fowls used for sacrifices 

Shrines and Growths, rivers, hills and forest play a very significant role in the lives of our people, either environmentally, economically or spiritually based on one’s believe and faith on the later. 

They are natural sites governed with traditions that our forebears have bequeathed to us with a lot of history behind them, their relevance today cannot be underestimated. 

One of such is Kukula the river god in Kayoro/Akania in the Kassena Nankana West District of the Upper East Region. As part of the heritage month, Radio Ghana took a visit to Kukula. 

Kukula the river god, takes its source from Burkina Faso running through Kayoro/Akania in the Kassena Nankana West District of the Upper East Region and ending up in the White Volta tributary in Pwuluga.

 Kukula is believed to have come from the sky in the form of light and struck a huge rock in the court yard of the Kayoro/Akania Chief’s Palace and split it, signifying that, the Aduinawo’s Palace should be the custodians of the god. 

This is how the power that came struck and  splinted part of the rock 

Beside the splinted rock is another rock in the form of an arm chair for resting such as this one 

From there, the power moved and settled in the river and has since become their river god “Kukula”. 

The water in the river hardly dries up and it is in this water that, when consulting, after performing the necessary rituals you are directed all alone to go into the water and make all your wishes then bath in it. 

According to the Chief priest of the river god Emmanuel Ayerah stated that, Kukula is a god that blesses people and have the solutions to all problems of human endeavor such as success in marriage, money, power, education, business, fame, travelling abroad, except to kill someone. 

He indicated that, people both home and abroad visit the river god including some pastors. 

The linguist of Chief’s Palace Aduna Adubinwo revealed that, historically, Kukula saved the people of Kania and Kayoro during the slave trade in the 1615s to 1630s, when the Kayoro/Akanias were pursued by the slave raiders, they consulted Kukula that they were being tormented for far too long and that they the natives needed power to overcome the enemy. 

According to Aduna, the linguist the next attack by the raiders, it was during March dry season.  Akanians run across their river god on dry land when the slave raiders tried to cross, Kukula suddenly filled herself with water, the raiders were rounded up, killed and the river carried their bodies away with the water.  This history is similar to that of Moses and the Israelite at the red sea against Pharaoh and his chariots.

The shackles taken from the slave raiders are in custody at the Akania chief’s Palace as exhibits.

The Chief linguist Aduna holding the shackles for as exhibit 

 When the slave raiders arrived, they shot a gun and the bullet hit a Tamarine in the 16^th century, that tree is still alive today with mark.

This is the gun shot of the slave raiders on the tree

Inside the Akania’s Chief Palace, where the suckles are kept, there is a platform which according to the linguist their ancestors came and met and it has never change. 

The frequent visits of people to area is a form of tourism and revenue to the natives as visiting there is not totally free. Kukula is located in a forest which as serves as a forest reserve.

 According to the natives, the forest has wild animals such as elephants, lions, monkeys, Antelopes, among others that servers as wildlife. The tree species found in the forest are the sheanuts, dawadawa, tamarine, black berry and ebony trees among others. 

In time past, that stretch of forest was very dense and fearful but was less patronized as the Kukula was not popular as of now. 

As a result of human activities, it lost its vegetative cover drastically as the common phenomenon bush fires bedevil the area.Though the Sustainable Land and Water Management Project (SLWMP) is operating in the area.

 As we celebrate the heritage month, there is the need to conserve whatever that has been bequeathed to us by our forebears for generation yet unborn, to come and experience it, learn and share. Otherwise, planet earth will suffer a disservice injured and destroy and posterity will not forgive for a wicked act.

Straw Basket Weavers Received PPE and Education on Social Distancing Against COVID-19

Straw Basket weavers in the Upper East Region have been given education on the need for social distancing and personal protective Equipment PP, to help prevent the spread of the corona virus. 

As a result, they are no longer weaving together in groups at the Weaving centers.  

Paku Enterprise (PE) Ghana in collaboration with the African Market Baskets (AMB) of the Overseas Connection of United States of America (USA), are among the major partners that are complementing government’s efforts at sensitizing the Straw Basket weavers in the region to help curb the spread of Coronavirus(COVID-19). 

The two organizations as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility   provided Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to more than the ten (10) Straw basket weaver groups valued more than GHS 10,000. 

The beneficiaries are from Zorbisi, Bolga-Sherigu, Zaare, Sumbrungu,, Sokabisi,   Yorogo, , Zorko,  Nyariga ,  Yikene and  Bolgatang, the regional capital. All the groups received  110 Veronica buckets, alcohol-based hand sanitizers and handwashing soaps. 

Speaking at the separate functions, the Coordinator of Social Interventions of the two organizations, Ms Eleanor Anabire, explained that the items, which formed part of her Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) was   to enable the groups wash their hands with soap under running water   and apply the hand sanitizers regularly to help prevent them from contracting the COVID-19 virus. 

The Coordinator who educated the groups to observe all the COVID -19 protocols and the President’s directives of social distancing, public gathering and personal hygiene, entreated the groups to be the ambassadors of the COVID -19 education in their respective communities. 

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Paku Enterprise Ghana, Mr Paul Akurugu, explained  that  although  the COVID-19 pandemic had affected  everybody in one way or the other, the basket weaver groups whom are mostly women are among the most  vulnerable groups that require immense support to keep them safe from contracting the virus. 

He explained that, Paku Enterprise is an indigenous firm based in Region that is primarily into production and export of authentic Bolga baskets and other handicraft products. 

He stated that the two partners have been working with the basket weaver groups in the region for many years and have been supporting the groups in diverse ways. 

He mentioned that annually the two organization as part of I their CSR, collaborate with    the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to register and renew the NHIS subscriptions of all members of the weaver groups, including their children.  

He also disclosed that both organizations annually donate educational materials such as reading and text books, pens, pencils, mathematics set, and computers among other to pupils of basic schools within the basket producing communities on an annual basis. 

Mrs. Akolpoka Abugre, one of the leaders of the Basket Weaver groups thanked the two organizations for the support and assured them that they would be ambassadors of the COVID-19 education in their respective communities.

Eat well, have sufficient rest and stay hydrated to boost immune system- Regional Director of Health

The Upper Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Winfred Ofosu has stressed the need to eat well, have sufficient rest, regularly and frequently drink enough water to stay hydrated and have regular dose of exercise to build a robust immune system in order to fight the effects of the Corona virus disease, saying the speed of one recovering from COVID 19 will largely depend one’s level natural

He has also discouraged the patronage of immune booster in the form of pills as substitute nutritious diet and regular physical activities.

Dr Ofosu made this known on Youth and COVID 19 show jointly hosted by 13-year-old Amoh Nana Adwoa Kente and 14-year-old Fuseini Hamshawu on GBC URA Radio over the weekend. 

He disclosed that that there is evidence that the virus is secreted in the fecal matter and that flushing the water closet after use can create an aerosol that can likely store the virus in the space for some time. 

He therefore advised not to use the wash room immediately after someone else uses it and to flush the toilet while the lid is closed to prevent aerosol from being created. 

Responding to a question on how the patients with COVID 19 are said to have recovered even though there is no known vaccine, he explained that the management protocol involves treating the Symptoms presented by each patients while monitoring the viral load and that will determine whether a patient has recovered. 

He hinted that there is evidence that even when a patient recover, the recovered person can still pass out the virus for up to about five weeks, hence the need to observe the health protocol including

 Social or physical distance, staying at home or wearing of nose mask when going out. 

Explaining why there is less death and fewer patients on ventilators in the African continent, Dr. Ofosu explained that the area with much COVID 19 cases with less death corresponds with areas where Malaria is endemic adding that some school of taught have it that has it that Africans have some level of protection due to malarial infection. 

He encouraged persons with symptoms similar to COVID 19 to Call the regional hotline 059-645-02-15 or alternatively reach the national hotline 112 and the call will be redirected to the regional response team adding this will check infesting others as one move to the health facility.