GRi Arts & Culture 08 – 11 - 2002

Cultural festivals crucial for national integration

Kingmakers asked to fill vacant stools

 

 

Cultural festivals crucial for national integration

 

Accra (Greater Accra) 08 November 2002 - Professor Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi, Minister of Education, on Thursday said inter-schools cultural festivals are the surest way for school children to engage in meaningful cultural interaction.

 

He said: "We have not done any scientific analyses to know its impact but I cannot think of any other avenue better than this (festivals) at the moment." Prof. Ameyaw Akumfi, who was answering parliamentary questions said it was unfortunate that the public perceived culture as only dancing and singing "but it goes beyond all these."

 

He said the Ministry would seek a wider publicity on such festivals in future to win public appreciation of such activities. The Minister said he would seek to increase budgetary allocations for such activities so that parents would be spared the burden of constantly contributing financially towards cultural festivals.

 

He said the ministry is in the process of mainstreaming culture in the curricula of pre-tertiary schools. The Inter-school cultural festival was first organised in 1987. It is organised at the district, regional and national levels for both basic and second cycle schools, each year. The national level festivals are held in the Regional capitals on rotational basis.

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Kingmakers asked to fill vacant stools

 

Beyin (Eastern Region) 08 November 2002 - Awulae Annor Adjaye III, President of the Western Nzema Traditional Council, has called on kingmakers to take immediate steps to fill vacant stools in the area.

 

He said the delay in installing chiefs to fill vacant stools give room for chieftaincy contractors to manoeuvre and fan disputes to divide the ranks of the people. Awulae Adjaye was speaking to the Ghana News Agency at Beyin on Sunday on measures being put in place by the traditional council to end protracted chieftaincy disputes.

 

He said there are vacant stools at Ekubaku, Ngelekazo, Kengen, Adjeza, Ehoaka, Bonyere, Kabenla-Suazo, Egboazo, Mpeasem, Azuleti and Mpataba. He also reminded newly installed chiefs to ensure that they are gazetted as another means of recognition.

 

Awulae Adjaye commended the people for ensuring a peaceful celebration of the Kundum festival and urged them to continue to work to ensure unity in the area.

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