CULTURAL NEWS
Thursday, August 2-8, 2007
Northern Regions honour their own
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BY: CHARLES BENONI OKINE, BENJAMIN GLOVER & SAMUEL ABAANE
*It was a Display of Rich Culture from the three regions whose quest for
unity had been married by some squabbles in the past.
THE First Grand Durbar of the chiefs and people of the three Northern Regions of the country was held at Bolgatanga last Saturday to celebrate the lives of eight personalities who have distinguished themselves in various fields towards the development and image upliftment of the regions.
The Kyembewura presenting an award to Mr. C.K. Tedam, a Member of the Council of State.
In what signified the nurturing of true unity among the three northern regions, those honoured comprised the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama; President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Ibn Chambas; former President of the Republic, Dr Hilla Limann who received a posthumous award and Member of the Council of State, Mr. C.K. Tedam.
*Vice President, Aliu Mahama, receiving an award from the Nayire Mahami Sheriga, King of Mamprugu and President of the Northern Regional House of Chiefs.
The rest were former Ambassador to Burkina Faso, Col. George Minyila (rtd); the Cardinal Peter Porker Dery; former Black Stars’ Captain and owner of Nania FC, Abedi ‘The Maestro’ Ayew Pele and a retired educationist and the first Principal of Bolgatanga Polytechnic, Mr. Robert Ajene.
As at 9 o’clock in the morning, a large retinue of chiefs from the three northern regions led by their subjects walked majestically to the durbar groups amidst drumming and dancing.
*The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas receiving an award fromthe Nayire Mahami Sherigo, King of Mamprugu and President of the Northern Regional House of Chiefs.
Dressed in their colourful traditional smocks, booths and special hats to match, the chiefs who included, President of the Northern Regional House of Chiefs and King of Mamprugu Area, Nayire Boligu Mahami Sheriga, the Paramount Chief of the Nandom Traditional Area, Naa Dr. Poure Chire, the President of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs, and Paramount Chief of the Kologo Traditional Area, Naba Simon Ayidana Asobayire, the Bawku Naba , Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka, and the Bolga Naba, Naba Martin Adongo Abilba 111, waved to the teeming crowd who had defied an early morning downpour to be part of the grand occasion.
It was a display of rich culture from the three regions whose quest for unity had been marred by some squabbles in the past as many of the people in the crowd, particularly visitors from abroad could not help but take photographic shots of the unfolding events for keeps.
Also present to grace the occasion were cultural troupes from the Ashanti Regional capital, Kumasi, which broke the monotony of one cultural dance as they displayed their rich adowa dance to give the visitors and special guests a taste of other cultures.
The Chairman of the occasion, Naa Dr. Chire used the occasion to commend the government for its efforts to bring development to the three northern regions and for more.
He said the lack of quality roads to link most parts of the regions was affecting the transportation of food to the southern parts and noted that the situation made farmers to suffer post harvest losses.
Mr. Sampson Kweku Boafo, the Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture, whose speech was read on his behalf said “cabinet has approved the proposal and the sitting allowance of our Paramount Chiefs has been raised to GH¢100 cedis” and noted that already the allowances of the first quarter for this year had been paid.
He said appropriate steps were also being put in place to restructure the departments and organizations under the ministry to make them more efficient and effective.
*Source:
GRAPHIC SHOWBIZ - Thursday, August 2-8, 2007 Page: 6 |