Emancipation day pilgrims attend durbar at
Assin-Praso
Assin Praso (Central Region) 29 July 2002- 'Pilgrims' tracing the slave route from the north, as part of this year's 'Emancipation day' celebration, on Saturday defied a heavy downpour, to interact with the chiefs and people at Assin-Praso. Assin-Praso, served as the 'gateway' for slave traders who plied between the Ashanti and Northern regions before shipping off the slaves at the coast.
The pilgrims, also visited, and laid wreaths at the 'African and 'European' cemeteries where slaves who died on their way from the hinterland to the coast, and some Europeans, were buried. The theme for this year's celebration is 'Emancipation: our heritage; our strength,' with a sub-theme: Consolidating the bridges between the Diaspora and the motherland.'
In an address, the Deputy Minister for Tourism Nana Akomea reiterated the government's determination to make the celebration more meaningful to the public and the nation as a whole.
He underscored the important role Assin-Praso played during the "infamous slave trade", and said it was in recognition of this, that his ministry intended to enhance future celebrations there by constructing a receptive facility.
He said the facility, when completed, would comprise a restaurant, stores, information centre and other important facilities like a handicrafts centre, which will among others, help to improve socio-economic activities of the people.
The minister said a development fund, would also be launched to develop the Assin Praso heritage village, particularly the roads and the durbar grounds, and urged the people to regard the tourist attractions in the area, as their property and help to develop and protect them. He said from next year, the day's celebration would be repackaged to involve activities that would mark the reverse of the slave trade.
According to him, the celebration which would be dubbed the "return pilgrimage", would symbolize a purification of Africans in the Diaspora to transform them from "emancipated slaves" into "royals", and would be performed along similar lines as the pilgrimage to Mecca.
The return pilgrimage he said, would involve sailing with the pilgrims from the Diaspora in boats to the dungeons of Elmina and Cape Coast castles, after which they would be driven in buses to Salaga to be purified traditionally using Ghana's local traditional purifying food "oto."
The deputy minister explained that this package, was geared towards adding more impetus to the interest the celebration has attracted, as well as giving the visitors more value for their money and also infusing cost effectiveness into the whole tour pattern.
He in this regard, tasked communities that were connected to the slave routes to get involved and contribute towards the success of the intended innovations to the celebration of the day. Professor Dominic Fobih, Minister for Environment and Science, urged the people to treat those from the Diaspora with love and care to encourage them to return to their roots to assist in the socio-economic development of the country.
He further charged them to strive against poverty, by making effective use their rich resources, and against any form of discrimination hindering the development of women and children. Odeefuo Tibu Asare II, Omanhene of Assin Atandanso traditional area, who presided, called on the government to help develop all the tourist attractions in the district.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 29 July 2002-Alhaji Sidiku Buari, the Acting Chairman of the Copyright Owners Society of Ghana (COSGA), said the new Board of Directors of the Society would collaborate with consumers towards the development of the arts and music industry in the country. He, therefore, appealed to consumers to make voluntary contributions that would assist COSGA in drawing up pragmatic programmes aimed at improving the sector.
Alhaji Buari was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency after the signing of an agreement between COSGA and the Ghana Hotels Association (GHA) in Accra on Friday. The Acting Chairman of COSGA signed on behalf of COSGA while Nana Kofi Adjei Twinin, the National President of GHA initialled for his association.
Under the agreement, GHA had agreed to collect royalties from members and to submit them directly to COSGA, among other things. Alhaji Buari said the pact would end the misunderstanding between the two organisations on the payment of royalties. He also hoped GHA would meet the deadline of August 30 this year for the collection and submission of royalties.
The Acting Chairman of the Board of COSGA noted that the development of arts, literature, drama and the film industry among others, depended on the remuneration of copyright owners received from users of creative and artistic works.
"It is the policy of the Board to let you users really feel that you are the people behind the creative talents in this country, and in a sense, you are really their sponsors. The royalties you pay is a great encouragement to our creative artistes," he said. Alhaji Buari was optimistic that by the agreement, the existing relationship between COSGA and GHA would be further strengthened and deepened.
He appealed to well-meaning Ghanaians as well as public-spirited individuals to voluntarily offer themselves as patrons of COSGA in order to support the creative talents of members,
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