Igbo, Ohanaeze Ndigbo community in Ghana mark yam festival

The Igbo and Ohanaeze Ndigbo communities in Ghana have celebrated their annual new Yam Festival.

The two groups have on the occasion resolved to deepen the cultural and economic ties between Ghana and Nigeria.

The New Yam Festival is celebrated by Igbos globally, to mark the period of harvest of yam, which is regarded as the foremost staple of the Igbo people.

The core objective of the New Yam Festival, a highly captivating art event, is to propagate Nigerian-Igbo cultural heritage and strengthen their traditional values, create synergy with the Ghanaian culture.

The occasion

In attendance at the event were some prominent leaders of Ndigbo in Ghana and leaders of other Nigerian communities in Ghana.

This year's event was celebrated on a low key owing to the prevalence Covid-19.

The President of the Igbo community in Ghana, Chief Michael Ifeanyichukwu Okereke, lauded the existing peace between Ghana and Nigeria adding that both countries have had long standing diplomatic and cultural relations dating back decades ago.

The Igbo New Yam Festival, he explained, brought together Nigerians and Ghanaians of like minds to fraternize and chart a course for consolidation of the already existing cordial relations between the two countries.

“As brothers and neighbours, both countries stand to gain a lot by working together.

“The Igbo New Yam Festival is one of those platforms that can further cement the relationships between the two countries,” Chief Okereke said.

He also pledged the commitment of all Igbos in Ghana to fully respect the laws of the country and to work hard to contribute to the country’s progress.