By Nicholas Osei-Wusu
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, has pledged the support of the Regional Coordinating Council to the Kumasi Centre for National Culture and schools to revive, sustain and promote important customs, traditional and cultural values gradually fading out and to imbibe in school pupils and students the need to cherish and uphold such tenets of the society.
According to the Regional Minister, culture and customs remain central forces for inclusivity and social mobilization for socio-economic development devoid of partisanship.
Dr. Amoakohene was speaking in Kumasi at Cultural Competition and Food Bazaar for selected basic and second cycle schools in the Ashanti region.
The Cultural Day, Jama Festival and Food Fair & Bazaar for basic and second cycle schools as well as catering service providers form part of the maiden edition of the Ashanti Festival code-named ‘ASHANTIFEST’.
The two-week long festival is an initiative of the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene following requests by prominent citizens and youth for an initiative that can bind the people together.
Selected senior High schools exhibited their culinary skills at the Food Bazaar and Food Fair.
They prepared time tested Asante cuisine like ‘Aprapransa laced with crab’, Fufu accompanied with different soups, ‘Nuhoo’, ‘)fam’, ‘Abete3’ using local ingredients with locally prepared starters and deserts. Some of the caterers took GBC through what they prepared and why particularly the youth must delight in Ghanaian dishes.
The “Abunabunu” is prepared from kontomire, pepper, onion, tomato, “kotodwe”, snail and mushroom. It helps in regulating the body processes, and it’s rich in protein, carbohydrate and vitamins”, Doris Nkrumah Adasah, lead caterer of the St. Monica’s SHS team explained
Naomi Boakye of St. Louis SHS speaking on behalf of her team, narrated “pewa we’ve beans as protein and carbohydrate from the corn we use, and we have green vegetables as well. It’s not a taboo to go back for lost heritage I’ll advise the youth to go back for our time tested local dishes since they’re nutritionally richer than the fast foods of today.”
The Cultural Day saw students in traditional dances, cultural performances, choral songs among others.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, pledged to support the Kumasi Centre for National Culture and schools to revive and sustain the rich culture of Ashanti.
“We’re here because of culture. Ashanti region is distinct by our culture. It reminds us of our history and helping us to determine our future. I’m optimistic this event would be sustained. As Regional Minister, I pledge my commitment to support the Cultural Centre and all the participating schools and cultural troupes so periodically, this Cultural Day will be organized.”
The Regional Minister mentioned culture as one of the pillars for socio-cultural and political inclusivity to galvanize the people for development.
“Over the years, our observation is that, we focused more on divisive tendencies rather than the uniting forces.
As politicians, such things prevented us from involving everyone for the region’s development. But, our president has asked us his appointees to practice inclusivity, which is galvanizing our people towards socio-economic development. By this approach, every voice matters now but not only during electioneering. This will also help us to promptly identify our mistakes for corrections early enough for progress.”
The Festival, which began on the 12th of this month with Clean Up exercise is scheduled to end on the 26th of this month to coincide with the 26th anniversary of the coronation of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu.
