The 2nd
edition of the Adekyem festival which was launched by the chiefs and people of
Bechem Traditional Area to establish an education fund to cater for the needy
and brilliant children entering into second cycle institutions.
In his
welcome address, Nana Fosu Gyeabour II, Omanhene of Bechem Traditional area and president of the
Bechem Traditional council who chaired the function said the name Bechem was derived from the
word share since the Ashanti’s booties
gained was shared there when the Ashantis were returning to their place from
the Brong Ahafo Region.
Nana
Fosu Gyeabour Akoto II, said festivals are celebrated to rekindle the rich
cultural heritage of the people of the area and also to bring citizens together
as a home coming and also as a tool of bringing development to the area. Nana
Gyeabour hinted that the Traditional councils
in the process of establishing palm oil factory at Bechem and as such a factory
the building is almost 80% complete
whilst machinery for the factory which was built by the Rural Technology
Facility at Bechem is ready for installation
when the building is completed. Nana said this venture had become
possible due to the oil palm plantation established in Bechem under the President
Special Initiative since fruits derived from the plantation had to be sent to
Juaben for extraction factory established there.
In his
address, the Tano South District Chief Executive Hon. Bukari Zakari Anaba
congratulated Nananom for the foresight in instituting the Adekyem festival
since it had gone a long way to bring development in the area.
Hon.
Anaba said though the District Assembly had instituted a scholarship package to
boost education in the area and the establishment of the Atanofo Educational
fund established under the auspices of the Adekyem festival planning committee
had also gone a long to help the needy but brilliant children in the
Traditional area. The District Chief Executive hinted that the district
assembly would also do all it can to help the investors who are willing to
invest in burnt bricks, pot and
earthenware on the clay deposits found in the area.
Hon.
Anaba charged the people to take advantage of the rural technology facility and
acquire basic machinery which will help them in their various fields.
The
secretary to the education fund Mr. Yaw
Adu Gyamfi in a report said 27
children have benefited from the scholarship package since the establishment of
the fund for the 2011-2012 academic year and hoped a good number of children
would be helped in the ensuring years. Mr. Adu Gyamfi hinted that the
beneficiary children would be helped through the second cycle school to the
tertiary level and charged the people to embrace the idea and contribute
genuinely to the fund.
The
Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister Hon. Justice Samuel Adjei said
celebrations of festivals in the country is an essential part of our culture
and admittedly festivals are also very important occasions, because of the
political, social, economical, moral and religious significant they impact on
the people.
Hon.
Adjei said government recognizes and appreciate Nananom as custodians of our
culture, customs and traditions and the institution of festivals through the
kind of leadership of Nananom often times serve as an eye opener which enable
both the indigenous of place and foreigners who visit such occasions to know
more about the culture and history of the celebrating the festival.
The
Deputy Regional Minister used the occasion to admonish the youth to always
aspire to be patient, disciplined, diligent and hardworking and also learn to
accord respect to Nananom and the elderly in the various communities and desist
from taking the law into their own hands but learn to always communicate their
issues and grievances through the appropriate channels and institution in their
various communities for their amicable settlement or redress.
The
Deputy Minister pleaded that Nananom will always be there to provide the people
with good leadership skills and advice in times of difficult situations and
hoped Nananom will continue with the relentless efforts, towards the amicable
resolution of the numerous chieftaincy and land disputes that threatening the
peace and unity of the people of the region.
Hon.
Adjei said today’s occasion should therefore remind us of the chords of unity,
love, tolerance and brotherliness that exist among our forebears.
Hon.
Adjei said he found the theme for the celebration “Adekyem Festival as a tool
for the social economic development of
Bechem Traditional Area” very important and a positive event which
should be given all the support it deserves to make it a reality and duly
launched the festival.
