Manya Krobo launches Ngmayem festival, fundraising

The Manya Krobo Traditional Council has launched the 2024 Ngmayem festival and fundraising events at separate ceremonies in Accra and the US simultaneously.

The fundraising is to ensure the completion of the ongoing Manya Klo Palace project at Odumase-Krobo.

The event was on the theme: “Homecoming: Let’s come back home to build.”

The occasion was also used to showcase the rich culture of the people of Krobo.

In attendance were the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno; COP Francis Ebenezer Doku (retd);  Dr Stephen Opata, an Advisor to the Governor of Bank of Ghana; Ambassador Peter Nyako, Director-General of the Research Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Dr Edward Atter Narh, CEO of the Narh-Bita Hospital and College, and Joe Muno, CEO of Afro Wings Travels and Tours. 

Also present were Apostle Emmanuel Odoi-Baah, Internal Missions and Evangelism Director of the Apostolic Church of Ghana, who represented the President of the Apostolic Church of Ghana; Apostle Dr Aaron Nartey Aminarh; Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, Member of Parliament for Lower Manya Krobo, and Simon Kweku Tetteh, MCE for Lower Manya Krobo Municipality, among others.

Unveiling of plan

The Chairman of the 2024 Ngmayem Festival Planning Committee, Gilbert Nene Odjidja, unveiled a grand plan to complete the palace project before the end of next month when this year’s festival would be celebrated. 

Nene Odjidja said the project, which was currently about 60 per cent complete, included a residential facility for the royal family, a traditional council hall, offices, a museum, guests’ rooms and a library, among others. 

He noted that the vicinity of the palace would also be transformed into an enclosed royal enclave to create the needed imperial ambience.

Homecoming

A Commissioner of Police, Francis Ebenezer Doku (retd), also known as Asafoatse Odjeblema Angmortey I, urged all Krobo sons and daughters living beyond the boundaries of the Krobo state, particularly those sojourning abroad to come home and join the ongoing effort to build the Manya Klo state. 

He lauded the organisers for what he described as a progressive step and urged the gathering to cheerfully donate in support of the initiative.

Appreciation

The Konor of Manya Krobo, who doubles as the President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, Nene Sakite II, extolled his forebears, including Obliponi Odonkor Azu I, King Sakite I, Sir Emmanuel Mate-Kole I, and Oklemekuku Azzu Mate-Kole II, for showing the way and casting the solid foundation upon which the current generation now builds. 

He said that the building of a modern and more befitting palace for the Manya Klo state had become necessary, and was glad that well-meaning Krobos and external donors were responding positively to his call to come back home and build.

“This new palace remains a monument and a testament to our collective effort to forge ahead; the beauty in unity which is being displayed through these initiatives is particularly refreshing,” he said.  

Ghanaian female highlife musician and saxophonist of international repute, Eugenia Asabia Cropper, a native of Manya Krobo, who is well known for her Kente headgear and ever-popular song composed in Dangme ‘Wa Maa Ya Dorm’ (We Are Homebound), also graced the occasion and entertained the impressive array of guests with her beautiful songs.

Quality Krobo beads from Cedi Beads Industries, Odumase-Krobo, and paintings of Sharon Dede Padi of Padiki Arts, who attempted a Guinness World Record Longest Painting Marathon recently (Paint-A-Thon), were auctioned to support the fundraising effort.