KONONGO HONOURS RABIU MOHAMMED (PAGE 31, JAN 2)

The Chiefs and people of Konongo in the Asante Akim North District of Ashanti have organised a grand durbar in honour of Rabiu Alhassan Muhammed for his heroic feat during the World Under-20 tournament in Egypt which saw Ghana making history by winning the trophy at stake . 
The National Under-20 midfielder, who now plays for Sampdoria in Italy, was decorated with a kente and native sandals during the ceremony in appreciation of the honour he brought to his native community – Konongo- where he started his football career.
The Chief of Konongo, Nana Batafo Akyeampong Nti II, also donated a plot of land to Rabiu.
The ceremony, which attracted a large number of people from Konongo and its environs, was also used to honour Sulley Ali Muntari, a member of the Senior national team. Nana Batafo Akyeampong also donated a kente and a parcel of land to Muntari who could not attend the ceremony.
The queen mother of Konongo, Nana Asantewaa Twumwaa Bankoni, the Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Director, Mr Kusi Appiah, the Parish Priest of Konongo Catholic Diocese, Rev Fr Ofosu Amoako, the parents of Rabiu, Alhaji Mansu and Hajia Akosua Nyarko, his grandmother, Madam Ama Tenewaa, and the Imam of Konongo, Alhaji Ousman, were among the dignitaries who graced the ceremony dubbed ‘Homecoming’.
Overwhelmed by the large gathering and the enthusiasm shown in escorting him to the Konongo palace where the durbar was held, Rabiu shed tears of joy and joined the youth in displaying his skills in dancing to show his appreciation .
When he was given the opportunity to speak to the large audience, Rabiu said he would work harder than before to bring more honours to the Konongo community.
“ I am going to train harder than before to enable me break into the Sampdoria first team to entice the national coach to invite me to feature prominently for the Black Stars”, he assured.
Earlier, Nana Akyeampong Nti had commended Rabiu for his sense of discipline and commitment during the tournament and charged him to be more dedicated to national programmes .
He said it was only discipline and hard work which would enable the rising star develop his potentials and become a world- acclaimed football icon.
The Konongo chief said the feat of Rabiu had now made him a role model for the youth, and therefore, charged him to interact with Muntari for them to initiate programmes that would entice the youth at Konongo to focus on their academic work and develop their potentials for them to acquire skills that would make them contribute more meaningfully to the socio-economic development of the community.
The Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Director, Mr Kusi Appiah, who chaired the programme, commended Nana Akyeampong Nti for honouring Rabiu.
He said the ceremony would not only encourage the youngster to fully develop his potentials, but would also motivate the youth of Konongo and its environs to be more dedicated to issues that would bring them into the limelight .