Oldest person at Beposo reveals secret of his old age

Beposo (Ash), June 17, GNA - Opanyin Kwadwo Broni, 114 years, the oldest person at Beposo in the Sekyere Central District in Ashanti Region has attributed his age and good health to kindness to other people refrain from alcohol, avoidance of argument and litigation. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency at his residence at Beposo at the weekend, Opanyin Broni affectionately called Agya Kwadwo, said his father who died so many years ago was not an illiterate person but he was about five years old during the Yaa Asentewaa war in 1900. He explained that even though palm-wine tapping and Akpeteshie distilling has been his profession throughout his life, he has never tasted alcohol before.

He mentioned Fufu and Ampesi with dry fish, bush meat, mushroom and snail as his favourite meals but regretted that of late, apart from dry fish, the rest are difficult to come by on the market. He advised the youth to desist from wrong doing, avoid alcoholic drinks and show respect to the elderly if they want to have peace and live longer.

On his family life, he said his mother gave birth to nine males and two females of who he was the second born but regretted that all of them have died leaving himself and her younger sister, Madam Yaa Asentewaa now 85.

He said his younger brother, Opanyin Kwame Mensah, died in May this year at the age of 105 and would be buried at Beposo on Saturday July 6. When asked of his religious beliefs, he said he believes in God but he is neither a traditional believer nor a Christian but quickly added that he is willing to go to Church, especially Presbyterian Church where his only surviving sister and most of his relatives are, in case anyone ask him to.

Opanyni Broni married three wives and had nine children but he is survived with two children and remains a bachelor as two of his wives died and the other one divorced him long time ago.