The
Chiefs and people of the Bechem Traditional Area (ATANAFO) comprising Bechem
Dwomo, Techire and Tanoso in the Brong Ahafo Region have celebrated the 2nd
Adekyem Festival amid pomp and show of culture at Bechem.
The
Omanhene and Queenmother of Bechem on arrival at the durbar grounds
The
Festival which seeks to inculcate the spirit of sharing, giving and forgiving
was attended by people from all walks of life including His Excellency Paa
Kwesi Bekoe Amissah Arthur – Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Ministers
of state, Members of Parliament, District Chief Executives and Traditional
Rulers. The festival had for its theme “Adekyem Festival as a tool for the
socio-economic Development of the Bechem Traditional Area”
The
vice president exchanging greetings on arrival at the durbar grounds
In
a welcome address, Nana Fosu Gyeabour Akoto II Omanhene of the Area used the
occasion to welcome all present and said he was grateful to all especially
Otumfour Osei Tutu II, Asantehene and all Nananom and citizens and friends of
Bechem Traditional Area who contributed to the success of the maiden Adekyem
Festival which was celebrated in November, 2011.
Nana
Fosu Gyeabour Akoto II reading his welcome address
Nana
Fosu Gyeabour Akoto II said, by the theme of the 2nd celebration of the festival, he wants to use
the festival to rediscover their heritage as a people and to continue to raise
funds to support the Atanafo Education Fund and to dialogue with Government to
translate policies into viable income- generating projects which will improve
the quality of life for the people.
Nana
said, they have identified investment opportunities in the areas of Palm oil
production, Soap making, brick and tile manufacturing, Estate Development and
are working seriously to start operation to create jobs for the people
and create wealth for development.
Nana
Fosu Gyeabour Akoto II, said Adekyem Festival has come to stay as a tool for
the Socio-economic development of the
Bechem Traditional Area and as a result of the festival, the Atanafo Education
Fund has been established to provide scholarships
for brilliant but needy students and
mentioned that, the fund is also to
provide remedial classes and free ICT
classes and has also created an awareness among Nananom and people of
Bechem Traditional Area about where they came from, the origins of Bechem, in
order to empower them to forge ahead in unity for the development of the area
and invited investors to partner with them in their efforts at developing the
natural resources of the land and again
used the occasion to invite the government to dialogue with them so that
together, they can translate government policies into viable projects which
will improve the quality of life of the people.
Concluding
his address, Nana Fosu Gyeabour Akoto II said, Nanananom are very grateful to
the Government for finding “our Member of Parliament worthy to serve the nation
as a Deputy Minister of Agric and hoped and trusted that she will give off the
best of her ability to justify the confidence reposed in her” and also extended
Nananom’s gratitude to the Tano south District Chief Executive for
collaborating with Nananom in the celebration of both the maiden and Second
Adekyem festivals.
In
a short speech, the Vice President H.E. Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur said, the
purpose for which the maiden Adekyem Festival was instituted cannot be over
emphasised since it created a fund for Education.
The
Vice President delivering his address
He
said education is significant to the human development and that government
would put in place mechanisms to develop the educational sector so that
children would have access to education at all levels. The Vice President said
the theme for the second edition of the festival which seeks to look for
measures to improve the socio-economic development of the Traditional Area is
appropriate since government alone cannot meet the needs of the people and
donated cash amount of Five thousand Ghana cedis (GH₵5,000.00) towards the sustenance
of the education fund and presented assorted drinks to Nananom for the
celebration.
The
Minister of Culture and Traditional Affairs, Dr. Henry Seidu Daannaa also, in a
short speech said the institution of Chieftaincy is an honourable one and must
be protected, he said the collapse of the Institution would have an adverse
effect on our day to day administration of our traditional set-up which would
bring problems to the people and that government would put in the necessary
measures to protect the institution.
The
Minister of Culture and Traditional Affairs, Dr. Henry Seidu Daannaa addressing
the gathering
The
Minister said, festivals are occasions which is celebrated to rekindle the
Traditional roles of the people and also used as a tool for the re-unification
of the Traditional area which also seeks to evaluate the past and present in
terms of development of a particular area and called on Nananom to use the
occasion to develop the traditional area.
A
representative of the Asantehene, the Omanhene of Offinso Traditional Area,
Nana Wiafe Akenten III who also chaired the function extended the felicitation
of the Otumfuo to the Chiefs and people of the Bechem Traditional Area in the
Celebration of the 2nd edition
of the Adekyem Festival.
A
representative of the Asantehene, the Omanhene of Offinso Traditional Area,
Nana Wiafe Akenten III sitting in state at the function
Nana
said, Otumfuo would have wished to attend the festival personally but other all
important traditional assignment have made him not to be able to attend but was
with them in spirit.
Nana
Wiafe Akenten III elaborated the importance of festivals and commended Nana
Fosu Gyeabour Akoto II and Nana Adwoa-po Dwamena Serwaa II for their bold step
in instituting the Adekyem Festival of the Chiefs and people of Bechem
Traditional Area and called on the people of the area to attach great
importance to the celebration of the festival.
Nana
said, wars were used in the olden days as a tool to amass the acquisition of
Land and wealth but Education has taken over these days so it would not have
been appropriate if the celebration of the festival had not been connected with
the education of it’s people and therefore called on the people to embrace the
celebration of the festival and give the necessary support it deserves.
Goodwill
messages were given by the Member of Parliament for Tano south Constituency, Dr
Hannah Loiussa Bissiw, Hon. Nii Lantey Vanderpuje - MP and Deputy Minister of
Trade and Industries and the Tano south District Chief Executive, Hon. Zakari
Bukari Anaba.
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