‘Patriotic’ dog steals the show

Dogs have a special chemistry with humans that dates back many tens of thousands of years. It is this chemistry and, perhaps, a sense of patriotism that drove a dog from home to join its owner to partake in Ghana’s 59th Independent anniversary celebration at the Kuntanase Town Park in the Bosomtwe District in the Ashanti Region.

The dog, which defied all odds and intermittent harassment by organisers and onlookers, closely followed its owner, Madam Yaa Mansah, in the company of a group of farmers as they showcased their produce. Interestingly, the dog gleefully participated in the march from start to end much to the astonishment of the audience and participants.

At a point, rather than driving it away, the crowd, mainly students and pupils, cheered it and sang for it.

Named Nyamebekere, the dog wagged its tail and jumped occasionally perhaps in resonance with the brass band music in the background.

Indeed, it was not only the dog which took centre stage; the farmers made their presence felt as well. Clad in some funny cloths, the farmers created their own songs and sung spontaneously yelling ‘Yerewuo’, ‘Yenfuo nyinaa ahyeheo, among others which literary meant ‘we are dying’ all our farms are burnt’.

The farmers, after the march, presented a petition to the District Chief Executive, Madam Veronica Antwi-Adjei, about the state of farming in the district.

The District Chief Farmer, Nana Matthew Adarkwah, narrated the effects of the recent fire outbreak which rendered many farmers jobless.

He said it had made life unbearable to the affected farmers and until the rains came, they would have to live with it.

The farmers appealed to the government to come to their aid with farm inputs and seeds to enable them replant their crops.