Manya Krobo climax 132nd Ngmayem Festival
The chiefs and people of the Manya Krobo Traditional Area in the Eastern Region last Friday held a grand durbar to crown the 132nd edition of their annual Ngmayem Festival at Odumase-Krobo.
The festival was on the theme: “Celebrating our heritage; Building our communities with a purpose.”
The week-long programme featured activities such as a health walk, women’s day, mock durbars and educational forum, pilgrimage to the royal mausoleum and quiz competitions among basic and senior high schools, a beauty pageant, visit to the ancestral home at the Krobo Mountain, a grand durbar and non-denominational church service, among others.
In a speech read on her behalf by a staff member of the Jubilee House, Kizito Ballans, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, gave an assurance that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government would complete all stalled projects started by the previous government which were not completed by 2028.
She said to fulfil that pledge, the government would continue to deepen collaboration with traditional rulers to promote community development and moral renewal.
Ms Bampoe Addo, who was invited as the guest speaker, lauded the Ngmayem Festival committee for the theme of the festival, which she said was in line with the national vision of the President’s reset agenda that called for moral renewal, unity and purposeful national reconstruction.
The guest speaker said the government had targeted the establishment of a University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD) at Bunso, which will serve as a centre of excellence for environmental research and innovation that would directly benefit the people of Eastern Region and Manya Krobo through knowledge exchange, skills development and regional economic opportunities.
“Under the Big Push programme, an allocation of GH¢13.8 billion is in this year’s budget, which has been committed to road infrastructure to enhance regional connectivity, open communities and stimulate trade.”
“And so, the people of Manya Krobo stand to benefit greatly from improved access to markets, social amenities and investment opportunities that will further drive local development,” the Deputy Chief of Staff emphasised.
The Konor of Manya Krobo, Nene Sakite II, advised the people that as they celebrated the festival, they must remember that development begins with the choices they make each day in their families, workplaces and traditional areas.
He also urged them to strengthen the bond between chiefs and the people at home, the diaspora and between tradition and modernity.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, assured the people that the Somanya-Kpong road would be fixed.
