How Chromolaena Odorata leaves was named after General Kutu Acheampong

A species of flowering shrub in the Asteraceae family native to tropical and subtropical regions is called Chromolaena odorata. From Florida and Texas in the United States south through Mexico and the Caribbean to South America, it is indigenous to the Americas. Tropical Asia, West Africa, and portions of Australia have all received it.

Chromolaena Odorata's name was given to Ghana's former military leader, Ignatius Kutu Acheampong, who ruled from 13 January 1972 until 5 July 1978, when he was overthrown in a palace coup and later executed by firing squad on 16 June 1979, for no apparent reason.

In Ghana,  Chromolaena odorata (Acheampong leaves) is used as a first aid to control bleeding  which is a very common practice in rural areas.
The efficacy of these abundant tropical leaves has not been thoroughly assessed though it is used for diverse interventions.
The Nephew of the former Head of State Ignatius Kutu Acheampong, Mr Augustine Barfour Gyawu has disclosed that Chromolaena odorata (Acheampong leaves) can be used to preserve dead bodies without one having to go to the mortuary.
Giving a history of how his deceased relation was named after the leaves, he said  “In the olden days when there was no mortuary to preserve dead bodies, they use of Chromolaena odorata (Acheampong leaves) to preserve dead bodies which proved to be potent.
“When someone dies, the family will go for Chromolaena odorata (Acheampong leaves) to preserve the body for about a week and because of the Chromolaena odorata (Acheampong leaves), the body will be fresh for burial without going bad” Mr Barfour Gyawu explained.

“The weed was named Acheampong leaves because when General Kutu Acheampong started ‘Operation Feed Yourself’ policy.  The leaves sprang up after some forests were cleared for farming for farming activities and farmers named it after the former Head of State”, he revealed
“Ambassador, you know that in this country, anything that shows up in the era of any President will be named after the person t like how cooking oil gallon was named Kufuor gallon” he explained.
Speaking in an interview with AMBASSADOR TV monitored by MyNewsGh.com, Mr Baffour Gyawu explained that “When the leaves invaded the country in the 70s, it spread so fast and because it was something new in the country and was discovered when Ignatius Kutu Acheampong was a President, the leaves was named after him”

Source: MyNewsGh.com



Kindly Subscribe On Youtube Channel Below:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Nl_0QQNCSg4&feature=share