13 April 2011 - Sunyani, Ghana - Musician Bice Osei-Kuffour, also known as Obour, has been unveiled as an ambassador for the tuberculosis (TB) prevention programme in Ghana.
The artist will take his brand of hip-life - a Ghanian music genre which fuses hip hop and highlife - to districts around the country with a campaign called 'Singing our way out of tuberculosis'. By spreading the message that TB is preventable and curable, the campaign hopes to increase the number of cases that are reported.
In his first appearance as a national ambassador, Obour performed a new song, "Yensuro TB", at a World TB Day event 24 March. The song is expected to feature in his forthcoming album, 'Back to Obour'.
"I feel it is my assignment as a Ghanaian and a young man who believes in the future of my country to always speak to the issues that affect my country, and not only speak to them but join in the action to put an end to the wrongs that affect my nation", he told Hi newspaper.
The campaign will target districts where few cases of TB are reported, encouraging members of the community to look out for TB symptoms and get treatment early. After visiting the first five districts, the campaign is expected to continue across the country.
The World TB Day ceremony was held at the Sunyani Jubilee Park on 24 March and was attended by the Minister of Health, Joseph Yieleh-Chireh; his deputy, Mr. Robert Joseph Mettle-Nunoo; the Brong Ahafo Regional minister, Mr. Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo; local students, health workers and the media.