The Dagaaba have reclaimed bragging rights over the Frafra after edging their traditional rivals 5-4 in competitions at the 29th Dagaaba-Frafra Friendly Games which rocked the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra last Saturday.
The annual games, which combine sporting rivalry with culture, friendship and peaceful coexistence, were held under the theme “Unity in Diversity: The Dagaaba-Frafra Model for Peaceful Co-existence.”
The pre-event build-up had placed particular attention on the traditional puppy prize, which symbolises the historic relationship and joking tradition between the two Upper Region ethnic groups.
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The Dagaaba won the women’s lime-and-spoon race, men’s and women’s volleyball, women’s tug-of-peace and the senior citizens’ penalty shootout of an event sponsored by telecommunication giants MTN for the 10th straight edition.
The Frafra, however, took the men’s lime-and-spoon race, men’s and women’s sack races and women’s football, while the men’s football contest ended in a draw.
The results represented a reversal of fortunes from last year, when the Frafra dominated the sporting contests, including both volleyball matches and women’s football, while the men’s football ended 1-1.
Beyond the competition, the 29th edition again demonstrated the enduring bond between the two communities, with the occasion also used to officially launch activities towards the 30th anniversary of an event that has taken place since 1996 between indigenes of the two tribes domiciled in the Accra and Tema Metropolis.
Guest of Honour, Dr Matilda Akataba Aberese-Ako of the University of Health and Allied Sciences, urged the two groups to jealously protect their enviable relationship and pass its values to the younger generation.
She described the Dagaaba as intelligent and hardworking and the Frafra as equally industrious, stressing that their complementary qualities could contribute to the development of communities where the two groups live. She also called for young people to be integrated into the organisation of the Games to ensure continuity.
Chairman of the Games, Rear Admiral Godwin Livinus Bessing, Chief of the Naval Staff, similarly stressed that the event was bigger than sporting competition.
“The ultimate trophy is not simply what we take home. The ultimate trophy is the friendship, peace and understanding that we build through this gathering,” he said.
He also urged the youth to use sport to build friendships, technology to promote peace and their education and skills to develop their communities.
The event attracted a distinguished gathering, including Professor Adams Bodomo of the University of Vienna, Professor Methodius Tuuli, Professor Samuel Atintono, Principal of Accra College of Education, Dr Anthony Baabereyir, Principal of Fosu College of Education, Brigadier General Dr Richard Naab, Commodore Raymond Kyaano, Mr Jacob Adongo Atule, Deputy CEO of the National Youth Authority, Mr Nicholas Dery, National Coordinator of the National Apprentice Programme, Dr Sebastian Sandaare, MP for Daffiama-Busi-Issah, Dr Stephen Sondem of KNUST and Mr Stephen Bemile, Vice President of Jayee University College.
The Dagaaba victory therefore delivered the desired sporting reward, but as both speakers emphasised, the enduring prize remains the friendship and unity that have sustained the Games for nearly three decades.
