Ghana’s rich cultural festivals are not only occasions for merry-making and stock-taking but also potential tools for social integration, national cohesion and development.
These days local festivals in every part of the country are no longer celebrated by the local people alone because they have become attractions to others who follow their friends, workmates, schoolmates, church members and other associates to participate in the celebrations.
That is why our festivals have become bridges that will bring people of diverse ethnic backgrounds together, cement and consolidate existing bonds and establish new alliances.
They also provide the opportunity for the people to overcome certain stereotypes, prejudices and wrong perceptions about others and exploit to the fullest the advantages inherent in a multi-cultural environment like ours.
The Volta Regional capital, Ho, at the weekend was the venue where Ghana’s rich culture was put on display and also showcased what we stand to benefit from as a nation if we use our festivals to reach out to others. This was on the occasion of a grand durbar by the chiefs and people of Asogli State to climax their annual yam festival, which always marks the harvest of new yam.
What was impressive about the durbar and worthy of replicating in our national life was the presence of royal delegations from the Asante and the Ga State, who joined their Asogli brothers and sisters in a colourful celebration.
Historically, there existed long-cherished bonds between various ethnic groups before colonial times. Unfortunately these bonds are being lost in the name of modernisation but they need to be rekindled. That was why the solidarity and friendship exhibited at the Ho durbar should be encouraged and promoted among the people for their mutual benefit.
There were also delegations from China, Togo and Zimbabwe, which gave the occasion an international character.
Another thing that was obvious and stressed was the need for chiefs to be development-oriented. Gone are the days when chiefs stayed in the background and only came out on festive occasions bedecked with gold ornaments.
These days, chiefs do not lead their Asafo groups waging wars against other people. There are still battles to fight though, but these are against poverty, ignorance, disease, illiteracy and squalor and this is where the leadership roles come into focus.
We need a new breed of traditional rulers who will be at the forefront of social transformation in their communities and the nation as a whole. Leaving matters in the hands of the central government or politicians alone would not help the nation.
It is in that vein that the Vice President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, who was the special guest of honour at Ho, commended the efforts of Togbe Afede XIV, the Agbogbomefia of Asogli State, for his instrumentality in the setting up of the Sunon-Asogli Power Plant, which has added 300 megawatts of power to the national grid.
Togbe Afede has also succeeded in initiating the Gold Coast Project, which is a multi-billion project for Accra. These are commendable efforts and it is only fair that they are recognised in the hope that they will serve as examples for others to emulate.
It is our hope that the Ho spirit will live on and as expressed by the Vice President,”set the tone for national unity based on mutual trust and inter-tribal tolerance within a democratic environment”.
No comments:
Post a Comment