Embrace our traditions, culture - Osabarimba Kwesi Atta admonishes students
A durbar to acknowledge and disseminate traditional values and culture as part of the 25th anniversary of the enstoolment of the Oguaamanhen, Paramount Chief of Cape Coast, Osabarimba Kwesi Atta II, has been held in Cape Coast.
Advertisement
The first of its kind, the durbar, dubbed "Kyim bi dzi kyim bi akyir" to connect all paramountcies and the Oguaa Traditional Council with other chiefs and traditions in Cape Coast gave the chiefs the opportunity to pay homage to Osabarimba Atta.
He said the nation was losing its values and traditions because it had placed premium on everything foreign.
He said it was time to go back to the country’s roots and uphold the traditions, customs and values that made Ghanaians unique, saying that would help sustain our growth as a people.
Of interest was the unique inclusion of the "traditional councils," the traditional students hierarchical set-ups associated with the various halls of residence at the University of Cape Coast.
The forum was used to share some cultural dos and don'ts and practical guidance and valuable insights into culture with the students to help preserve such traditions. Osabarimba Kwesi Atta said it was to connect the students to the unique values and traditions that the country was highly esteemed for as a way of preserving them for posterity.
He explained that the involvement of the students' "traditional councils" was to build in them a sense of confidence and pride of their traditions and spur them on to preserve them.
He stressed that if today's youth did not learn and cherish their culture, they risked losing their identity as Ghanaians and Africans in the future. He expressed concern about the significant influence of Western culture, which he believed was diverting attention from Ghana's rich cultural heritage.
Other Trending Stories
Be proud of heritage
Osabarimba Kwesi Atta advised the students to take pride in every aspect of Ghanaian culture, including language, food, dress and music, and to use their positions as students to educate others on the Ghanaian culture.
"In your various capacities as Kosohene, Kyeame, Ohemaa, Ohene, or whatever you call it, make sure that you preserve the culture and not degrade it," he stated. He used the occasion to highlight the importance of time management, noting that some students arrived late.
He emphasised that being conscious of time was crucial in every aspect of life, especially for students. The Chief of Assin Darmang, Okofo Kwadwo Bi Benti II, who spoke on behalf of invited chiefs, urged the Oguaa Traditional Council to work with the university to officially institute the students traditional council parallel to the Students Representative Council, to serve as a platform for tradition learning.
A level 400 student pursuing Bachelor of Arts in Education and known by his stool name Okofo Twum Barima II, Emmanuel Prempeh Boateng, expressed his gratitude to Osabarimba Kwesi Atta for the opportunity.
He highlighted the importance of honouring and enlightening the youth about their culture. Boateng appealed to Osabarimba Atta for traditional resource persons who could visit the traditional councils on campus and continue to educate them on traditions and customs.
"This gathering was not just a celebration but a call to action for the youth to reconnect with and preserve their cultural roots, ensuring that the rich traditions of Ghana endure for generations to come," he added.