GRi Arts & Culture 04 – 10 - 2002
Kumasi (Ashanti
Region) 04 October 2002- Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene has visited the
Centre for National Culture (CNC) to acquaint himself with its problems as well
as the progress and development of the Centre.
The visit, which
lasted about 50 minutes, took the Asantehene's entourage round the Prempeh II
Museum, Dwaberem and the Apatakesie, where there is an on-going projects to
give the place a face-lift.
Mr Wilberforce
Otchere-Darko, Ashanti Regional Director of the CNC, said the major problem
facing it was how to raise its status to meet international standard to attract
both tourists and investors.
He said the Centre
had not seen any major renovation since its inception some 50 years ago and
that most cultural programmes, which generated funds for the Centre had all
been abandoned due to lack of sponsors.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu
congratulated the Traditional Caterers Association for projecting local dishes
even in the face of competition from other continental dishes. The caterers who
participated in the traditional food bazaar as part of the activities marking
the Golden Jubilee celebration of the CNC, exhibited local dishes like
"akaw", "aprapransa", "sewie", "abunuabunu",
"fufuo", "eto" and "mpotompoto".
Nana Brefo Boateng,
the out-going Director of the CNC, said the local dishes were highly nutritious
and healthier than most continental dishes. He said experience had proved that
African's lived longer in the olden days because they took well-prepared local
dishes.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com