Owusuwaa Health Weekly Magazine
Your Go-To Digital Health & Lifestyle Magazine for Holistic Wellbeing
Featured Cover Star: Gwen Addo
Exclusive Feature : Water : Ghana’s Hidden Treasure : Explore the essential role of water in Ghana’s culture. geography, economy, and tourism. Discover why it is not just a reason, but a treasure worth protecting.
In This Issue: Exclusive Insights & Timely Features
Spotlight on Ghana’s Lakes and Rivers
- Lake Bosomtwe – Ghana’s only natural lake,not rich in ecological and cultural significance.
- River Pra – A vital waterway with historic, economic, and environmental value.
Tips for a Purpose-Driven Life
Inspired by Water and Leadership
- Flow With Purpose
- Stay Fluid, Not Fragile
- Pour Into Others
- Protect Your Source
Special Edition Release
Friday, August 8, 2025
Theme: Water – Ghana’s Hidden Treasure
Read Exclusively at: assumptagh.live
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A Word From the Editor
“Water flows where it’s needed most. So should your energy. Let this edition guide you toward living with clarity, strength, and purpose.”
— Owusuwaa Editorial Team
This Week’s Featured Dialogue
Guest: Gwen Addo – Certified Entrepreneur, Wellness Coach & Food Educator
Host: Berla Mundi
Topic: Also Discussed: Gwen Addo: A Catalyst for Change
Gwen Addo wears many hats:
• Business strategist
• Wellness coach
• Author of “Direction”
• CEO of Hair Senta, HIBS-Africa, and TLS – The Leading Senta
• Co-founder of Owusuwaa Health Weekly Magazine
Through her leadership, Gwen is transforming wellness into a social movement across Ghana and beyond—fostering environments where health, identity, and empowerment intersect.
“Cultural exchange is the heartbeat of this vision. It sparks meaningful connections and fosters a deep sense of belonging.” — Gwen Addo
Rethinking Our Roots: What History Tells Us About Being Black, Healthy & Whole
Being Black and healthy is revolutionary.
Many of us were raised with faith, but not with health or environmental awareness. We learned to pray, but weren’t taught how our ecosystems—our lakes, rivers, and lands—heal and sustain us.
Faith alone won’t fix environmental destruction.
We must build, learn, and act.
It’s time to:
- Reconnect with our ecosystems
- Reclaim our ancestral health practices
- Rethink what wellness truly means
“No one taught us the health we gain from nature—they just told us to pray. But now, we know better. Now, we act.”
Brought to You In Partnership With:
The Leading Hair Senta
Bridging Beauty, Wellness, and Cultural Identity
Flow With Purpose: Tips Inspired by Water & Leadership
As we celebrate Ghana’s precious water bodies and spotlight visionary leader Gwen Addo, here are a few life and leadership tips drawn from the power of water—and the principles Gwen lives by:
🔹 1. Stay Fluid, Not Fragile
Just like water adapts to any container, successful leaders and entrepreneurs stay flexible. Be open to change, but never lose your essence.
🔹 2. Purify Regularly
Protect your peace. Like rivers threatened by pollution, your mind and spirit need regular detox. Practice reflection, prayer, or journaling to stay clear and focused.
🔹 3. Flow with Purpose
Water flows with direction—so should you. Set clear goals and align your daily actions with your long-term purpose.
🔹 4. Pour into Others
Leadership is about service. Gwen Addo’s journey shows that empowering others is one of the most impactful ways to grow your legacy.
🔹 5. Protect Your Source
Whether it’s your health, your values, or your family—guard what keeps you strong. Just like Ghana’s rivers, when your source is compromised, everything downstream suffers.
Major Rivers in Ghana
- Volta River
- The largest river system in Ghana.
- Formed by the confluence of the Black Volta and White Volta.
- Feeds Lake Volta, one of the largest man-made lakes in the world.
- Key for hydroelectric power (Akosombo Dam), fishing, irrigation, and transport.
- Pra River
- Flows through the central and southern regions.
- Heavily affected by galamsey (illegal mining).
- Vital for local agriculture but now poses serious water pollution concerns.
- Ankobra River
- Located in the western part of Ghana.
- Supports fishing and small-scale transport.
- Also under threat from mining pollution.
- Tano River
- Begins in Ghana and flows into Côte d’Ivoire.
- Holds spiritual significance in Akan traditions.
- Supports farming communities along its path.
- Densu River
- Supplies water to Accra (via the Weija Dam).
- Faces threats from encroachment, pollution, and waste dumping.
Major Lakes in Ghana
- Lake Volta
- One of the largest artificial lakes in the world by surface area.
- Created by the Akosombo Dam on the Volta River.
- Crucial for hydroelectricity, fishing, inland transport, and tourism (e.g., Dodi Island tours).
- Lake Bosomtwe
- Ghana’s only natural lake and a meteorite impact crater.
- Located near Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.
- Sacred to the Ashanti people; popular for ecotourism and relaxation.
- No fishing is allowed on Tuesdays—due to local spiritual beliefs.
- Lake Bui (Bui Dam Reservoir)
- Created as part of the Bui Hydroelectric Project.
- Located on the Black Volta River.
- Near Bui National Park, making it a potential tourism spot.
Water: Ghana’s Hidden Treasure
Featuring Gwen Addo – Visionary Leader, Empowering Africa’s Beauty Industry
Ghana’s rivers and lakes are more than just natural wonders—they are lifelines that nourish the land, sustain communities, and reflect the depth and resilience of our nation. Like these water bodies, true treasures often lie beneath the surface—quietly powerful, shaping lives and futures.
This month, we spotlight Gwen Addo, a woman whose journey mirrors the essence of these hidden treasures. From a successful career in banking to becoming the founder and CEO of The Hair Senta, Gwen has redefined what it means to lead with vision, passion, and purpose. As an entrepreneur, Christian, leadership coach, wife, and mother, she pours into others—helping brands across Africa rise and thrive.
Her story reminds us that, like water, purpose flows—shaping not only industries but destinies.
WATER: Ghana’s Natural Lifeline
With reflections from Gwen Addo – Entrepreneur & CEO, The Hair Senta
In Ghana, water is not just abundant—it’s alive with purpose and beauty. From the vast Atlantic coastline to winding rivers, freshwater lakes, serene streams, cascading waterfalls, and soothing natural hot springs, water defines our landscape and nourishes every corner of the nation.
Water sustains all forms of life across Ghana and the African continent. It provides clean drinking water, supports agriculture, enables fishing, and keeps ecosystems in delicate balance.
Among Ghana’s natural wonders are the hanging bridges of Kakum National Park, suspended above lush rainforest canopies and rivers below. These bridges serve as both a thrilling attraction and a vital connection across otherwise impassable terrain—testament to how water shapes even our infrastructure.
Hidden deep in the mountains lies Big Rock Falls, a majestic site where water crashes over granite boulders into a tranquil pool below. This forested haven is not only breathtaking—it’s essential to preserve for future generations. Protecting it means protecting life itself.
Along the coast, the fishing town of Elmina thrives. Here, fishing is not just an economic activity—it’s a way of life. Trips at sea can last from one to nine days, sustaining both local communities and national markets.
Our rivers and lakes are rich with life—home to countless species of plants and animals that provide food, shelter, and healing. They support our survival and well-being in more ways than we often realize.
But this precious gift is under threat.
If we allow pollution and illegal mining to continue unchecked, these waters can no longer enrich our soil, nourish our crops, or sustain our health. What we fail to protect today, we risk losing tomorrow.
“Like water, beauty and health must be nurtured from the source. What we put into the world—and into ourselves—should be clean, pure, and purpose-driven. Ghana’s rivers remind us that true transformation flows from what we care for.”
— Gwen Addo, CEO of The Hair Senta
Water is Ghana’s hidden treasure—sacred, powerful, and vital. Let’s honour it, protect it, and let it flow for generations to come.
Live Dialogue: Water, Leadership, and Galamsey in Ghana
Host: Berla Mundi
Guest: Gwen Addo – Wellness Advocate, Entrepreneur, and CEO of The Hair Senta
Date: August 7, 2025
Platform: Assumptagh.live
Berla Mundi:
Good day to all our viewers and listeners across Ghana and around the world. You’re tuned in to Owusuwaa Health Weekly Magazine’s featured dialogue—a platform where health, leadership, and environment intersect for meaningful conversation.
I’m your host, Berla Mundi—a Ghanaian media personality, women’s advocate, and someone deeply passionate about Africa’s future.
Joining me today is a truly inspiring guest: Gwen Addo. She’s a Certified Entrepreneur, Wellness Coach, Food Educator, and the visionary CEO behind The Hair Senta, HIBS-Africa, and TLS – The Leading Senta. Gwen is also the Co-founder of Owusuwaa Health Weekly Magazine—a digital health and lifestyle platform that’s changing the way we think about wellness and purpose.
She’s not just a leader—she’s a movement. And this month, she’s also our cover star. Gwen, it’s such a pleasure to have you here.
Gwen Addo:
Thank you so much, Berla. I’m truly honored to be here. I always say conversations like this are where real transformation begins. When we talk honestly, we move people toward purpose—and action.
READING THE REPORT.
Berla Mundi:
Absolutely. And before we dive in, I want to begin by reading a report that’s been the center of national and even global concern:
“The former Minister for Environment, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, submitted a report to the President, detailing the involvement of some government officials in illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey. At the time, Professor Frimpong-Boateng served as the Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM). In his 36-page report titled ‘Report on the Work of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining – The Way Forward’, he alleged that some government officials, political party members, and private individuals were actively involved in illegal mining activities. He further stated that some of the individuals named in the report were working directly from the seat of government.”
“Although the report was submitted to the President, no action had been taken after one year. Instead, a new minister was appointed to replace him at the Environment Ministry. In March 2023, Professor Frimpong-Boateng stated that he was removed from his position because of the report.”
“He said: ‘People within the party and government conspired to remove me from office. After I left the ministry, the illegal miners returned to the forests and water bodies.'”
THE QUESTION
Berla Mundi:
Now Gwen, given all this—and knowing that rivers like the Pra, Ankobra, and Densu are severely polluted due to illegal mining—here’s the pressing question on everyone’s mind:
Is Ghana at risk of importing water in the near future? Are we walking blindly into a future where clean drinking water becomes a luxury—because of galamsey and the complicity of our own leaders?
GWEN ADDO RESPONDS
Gwen Addo:
Berla… that question cuts deep—and it’s time we stop sugar-coating the truth. Yes, Ghana is absolutely at risk of becoming a nation that has to import water—and not because we lack the natural resources, but because we’ve failed to protect them.
Let’s be real: water is life. And Ghana is blessed—Lake Volta, Lake Bosomtwe, the Volta River system, River Pra… these are not just water bodies, they are our national lifelines.
But when illegal mining contaminates these rivers with mercury and heavy metals—when we allow political power to override environmental protection—then we’re literally poisoning the well our children will one day drink from.
So yes, if we continue like this, Ghana could end up buying clean water the same way some countries import oil. That’s the path we’re on.
And Berla, let’s not forget: wellness is not just what you eat or how you move—it’s what you drink, it’s the air you breathe, the land you farm. You cannot claim to care about public health if you ignore environmental destruction.
Berla Mundi:
You said that so powerfully, Gwen—wellness includes what we drink, what we breathe, and where we live. And speaking of that, your feature in this week’s Owusuwaa Health Weekly Magazine highlights something I think we’ve all overlooked for far too long—the sacred role of water in our health, our heritage, and our healing.
The issue is titled: “Water – Ghana’s Hidden Treasure”. You’ve written beautifully about places like Lake Bosomtwe, River Pra, and the Densu, calling them not just resources—but reflections of our values.
Let’s unpack that. Why do you believe water should be at the heart of Ghana’s national transformation?
Gwen Addo:
Thank you, Berla. You know, when I say water is sacred, I mean it. Water is more than H₂O. It’s history. It’s identity. It’s spiritual. And in Ghana, it’s our unseen power—but we’re not treating it that way.
When you look at Lake Bosomtwe, our only natural lake, it’s not just beautiful—it holds centuries of Ashanti spiritual and cultural significance. Or River Pra, which once gave life to entire farming communities but now struggles under the weight of mercury and devastation.
What does it say about us as a people if we pollute the very thing that sustains us? That’s not just environmental neglect—that’s a cultural disconnect.
CULTURE, WELLNESS & LEADERSHIP
Berla Mundi:
That’s such a powerful phrase—“cultural disconnect.” And it ties back to something you wrote in this edition of Owusuwaa Health Weekly Magazine:
“No one taught us the health we gain from nature—they just told us to pray. But now, we know better. Now, we act.” What inspired you to write those words?
Gwen Addo:
Because it’s my truth—and the truth of many. We were raised in faith, which is beautiful, but not in environmental wisdom. We knew how to fast, but not how to eat right. We knew how to worship, but not how to protect the rivers God created for us. It’s time to bridge that gap.
My mission—through my companies, through this magazine, through coaching—is to help Ghanaians reconnect with the earth, with their bodies, with their ancestral knowledge. Because our ancestors didn’t pollute—they preserved. They knew the land gives back what you give it.
WHAT WELLNESS REALLY MEANS
Berla Mundi:
And that’s why you always talk about “direction”—not just wellness for now, but wellness with legacy. You’ve even written a whole book on it! In this issue, you list leadership tips like:
- “Stay Fluid, Not Fragile”
- “Purify Regularly”
- “Flow With Purpose”
- “Pour Into Others”
- “Protect Your Source”
Tell us how these water-inspired principles can help not just individuals—but Ghana as a nation.
Gwen Addo:
Absolutely. Let me break a few of those down:
🔹 Stay Fluid, Not Fragile – Just like water adapts to any space, leaders must stay open to change. But flexibility is not the same as weakness. We can pivot without losing our core values.
🔹 Protect Your Source – Whether it’s your values, your health, or our rivers, your source determines everything downstream. If you pollute it—physically or morally—everything else suffers. Ghana needs to protect its moral and ecological sources.
🔹 Flow With Purpose – Water never flows aimlessly. It finds its way—over rocks, around obstacles. That’s how we must move as a country. Purposefully. Relentlessly.
I believe if Ghana applies these principles—not just in leadership, but in education, agriculture, urban planning—we’ll begin to see wellness not just as personal, but as national transformation.
THE WARNING & THE CALL TO ACTION
Berla Mundi:
Wow. You’re reframing wellness as national policy. I love that. So let me ask you this, Gwen: What happens if Ghana doesn’t act now? What is the cost of inaction?
Gwen Addo:
Berla, if we don’t act now, we won’t just import water—we’ll export responsibility. We’ll teach the next generation that profit mattered more than people, and that’s a tragic legacy. Water scarcity will drive up healthcare costs. Pollution will deepen inequality. Food insecurity will rise. Rural communities will be displaced.
And worst of all? We’ll lose the soul of who we are as Ghanaians—a people who once lived in harmony with our rivers, forests, and mountains.
But here’s the good news: it’s not too late. We can choose to flow in a new direction.
Rethinking Our Roots: What History Tells Us About Being Black, Healthy & Whole
Berla Mundi:
Gwen, before we close, I’d like to reflect on something deeply moving from this month’s issue of Owusuwaa Health Weekly—and I know it captures the heartbeat of everything we’ve discussed today.
“Being Black and healthy is revolutionary.”
Many of us were raised with faith, but not with health or environmental awareness.
We learned to pray, but weren’t taught how our ecosystems—our lakes, rivers, and lands—heal and sustain us.
But faith alone won’t fix environmental destruction. We must build, learn, and act.
We’re now being called to:
- Reconnect with our ecosystems
- Reclaim our ancestral health practices
- Rethink what wellness truly means
And as you said so powerfully in the magazine, Gwen:
“No one taught us the health we gain from nature—they just told us to pray. But now, we know better. Now, we act.”
Gwen Addo:
Exactly, Berla. Now, we act.
We act by protecting our rivers, by choosing leadership with integrity, by living with intention. We act by honouring the wisdom of our ancestors and aligning it with the needs of our future.
Wellness is cultural. Wellness is spiritual. Wellness is environmental.
And if we can reclaim all three, then we’ll not just be Black—we’ll be Black, healthy, and whole.
Berla Mundi:
What a powerful note to end on. Gwen Addo, thank you for leading with truth, grace, and vision. Thank you for reminding us that water, leadership, and purpose are not separate streams—but part of the same river.
To all our viewers and readers around the world:
Let’s rethink our roots.
Let’s protect our sources.
Let’s flow with purpose.
This has been Owusuwaa Health Weekly Magazine, and I’m Berla Mundi.1a That’s the message we need: It’s not too late. Gwen, thank you for sharing not just wisdom, but urgency. Your leadership, through business and wellness, is truly refreshing—just like clean water.
Before we wrap up, what’s your final call to action to Ghanaians everywhere?
Gwen Addo:
Simple.
✅ Reconnect with nature.
✅ Reclaim our health.
✅ Rethink what leadership means.
✅ And most importantly—protect your source.
Galamsey isn’t just an environmental crime. It’s a betrayal of our future. But together—through faith, truth, and action—we can heal our land and ourselves.
📅 CLOSING
Berla Mundi:
Amen to that. You’ve been watching Owusuwaa Health Weekly’s special edition: Water – Ghana’s Hidden Treasure, with our phenomenal guest Gwen Addo. For more insights, leadership lessons, and health tips, head over to assumptagh.live and read this Friday’s exclusive feature.
I’m Berla Mundi.
Stay fluid, stay focused, and above all—flow with purpose.
See you next time.
Our Shared Humanity.
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