NAFAC presents Ghana as one
The bringing together of various ethnic groups to form a single entity called Ghana was manifest by rich cultural performances last Saturday when the 2014 National Festival of Arts and Culture ( NAFAC) opened in Sunyani.
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From kete to kpalongo, agbagza , and damba, regional dance groupings, one after the other, performed with extraordinary finesse, to depict the unique cultural identity of Ghana.
The Jubilee Park in the Brong Ahafo regional capital where the national durbar of chiefs was held to officially open the week-long festival was overflowing with people from all walks of life with various chiefs in the thick of events.
Dressed in their traditional regal clothes, the chiefs, many of whom rode in palanquin amidst the throbbing of fontonfrom drums, added something special to the well -attended durbar.
This year's event is being held on the theme, “the creative arts industry and tourism - a platform for national development."
Region by region, cultural troupes were given time to perform to the admiration of the gathering.
The cultural displays at the three-hour durbar depicted mainly the importance of inter-cultural cohesiveness
Indeed, President John Dramani Mahama who opened the festival drummed home the need for the country to build on the ethnically diverse society to promote oneness, unity and inclusiveness.
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Significantly, President Mahama who a day earlier had apologised for his delay in arriving at Sefwi Wiawso for the National Farmers Day due to a fault in the official aircraft, this time was at hand to receive apologies from the President of the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs, Pemampem Yaw Kagberese V, for arriving on time at the durbar grounds, when most of the chiefs were still not present.
A biennial event, NAFAC offers a platform for the people of the various regions to display the very best of their culture, and go beyond to promote peace and oneness amongst the various ethnic groupings.
Activities to run at the Sunyani festival include traditional beauty pageant, football gala, exhibition, county party, international friendship night, and women and children's day.
The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu Adjare, said the creative industry in Ghana has carved a niche market by repositioning the industry to support self-employment, job creation and revenue.