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Eastern Region holds Festival of Arts and Culture
• Dr Akosua Abdallah (left), greeting Daasebre Kwaku Boateng III
Cultural display was at its best in the Eastern Region during this year’s Regional Festival of Arts and Culture which was celebrated at the Koforidua Jubilee Park.
The region which has 11 traditional areas namely Anum, Boso, Manya and Yilo Krobo, Akuapem, Akyem Abuakwa, Bosome, Kotoku, Kwahu, Akwamu and New Juaben had their cultures displayed through beautiful performances.
Several performances, including the dipo, adowa, borborbo, among other traditional dance were performed by the Ohu Cultural Group from Akropong, Klama Cultural Group from Odumase-Krobo, Nyanyui Borborbor and Centre for National Culture (CNC) Cultural Group in Koforidua, to the admiration of the audience.
The Asokore Seventh Day Adventist, Oyoko Methodist and Ghana Senior High Schools were among schools that performed through poem recitals, brass band performance and singing of corals.
The Eastern Regional Police Band was also present to grace the occasion which was chaired by the Omanhene of New Juaben Traditional Area, Daasebre Kwaku Boateng III.
Speaking on the theme: “Reviving Patriotism, Peace and Unity Through Cultural Diversity for Sustainable Development,” the Director in charge of Community Education and Youth Development (CEYD) at the National Commission on Culture (NCC), Dr Akosua Abdallah said it was worrying to note that modernisation and globalisation had affected and continued to affect every aspect of national life and culture.
“You will go to a house and they are eating fried rice, noodles and other foods that are not Ghanaian. Where are our traditional foods like ampesi, fufu and the rest? We need to go back and teach our children our traditional foods and culture and stop adopting western culture which was depleting our culture,” she said.
She said there was an urgent need to imbibe into the youth, a sense of patriotism, nationalism, unity and a selfless ideal towards the country, adding that the NCC believed in a national strategy that sought to promote and sustain the interest of Ghanaians, particularly the youth and called for some stock-taking and deeper reflection on “our ideals so that we can teach our youth.”
She said the NCC was committed to promoting the national culture and would continue to hold such events to promote the cultures to the international community.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Seth Kwame Acheampong stated that the Culture and Creative Arts Industry was an essential component of the country’s economy which was making significant contribution to national development.
“We consciously need to guard it by steadfastly holding on to it for employment and wealth creation and it is important to uphold the rich cultures handed to us by our ancestral heritage taking cognisance of its vitality and values,” he said.
He said the theme was apt since the country had allowed for western cultures to permeate the Ghanaian culture through technology, adding that the situation had caused a lot of indiscipline among the youth.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu
Agyeman, Koforidua
Madam Sandra Seyram Kpedor, the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Anloga in the Volta Region, has emphasised the importance of parental involvement in children’s education, stating that education is free, but parents need to do more to support their children.
She said parents, teachers, and students must be involved in addressing the challenges facing the district’s education sector, particularly the poor Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results.
Madam Kpedor outlined some key roles parents should play to promote their children’s education, including providing a conducive learning environment, monitoring their children’s progress, and supporting teachers.
The DCE highlighted some challenges the district faced such as inadequate infrastructure and a shortage of teachers, which have also contributed to the poor BECE results and called on well-to-do parent to help solve the situation through and other supports.
To address the issues, she also announced that plans have been taken to utilise the district’s common fund to implement educational projects, such as constructing school blocks and teachers’ bungalows at Sodzi community, and 2-unit classroom blocks each at Akplorwutorkor and Tegbi-Afedome respectively, among others.
Madam Kpedor also noted that her office had earlier notified the Ministry of Education to deploy more teachers to the area to improve teaching and learning, and encouraged students to work hard and strive for excellence, and work beyond their limit to succeed.
“To my wonderful and beautiful girls, you have to know it clear that women and girls have equal opportunities to compete with men for greater achievements,” she indicated.
The DCE cited her own achievement as a testament to the fact that women can excel in leadership positions, alongside Vice President Nana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, and stressed that girls were no longer limited to domestic roles but can pursue their dreams and become leaders.
Additionally, she mentioned that a meeting was held earlier with assembly members, and other stakeholders to address the district’s educational challenges and improve academic performance.
She promised that the district’s education oversight committee and stakeholders would work together to address the challenges and improve the district’s BECE results and called for parental involvement and support to boost the district’s education sector for children to chase their dreams to become future leaders for the success of the district and the nation.
She urged parents not to leave everything to the government but rather help in the provision of some necessary materials such as textbooks, exercise books, pens, pencils, food, and guidance to children for the successes of young learners. –GNA
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The spokesperson for Dr. Bawumia, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has criticised the implementation of the NDC government’s No Fee Stress policy, arguing that the programme has failed to deliver on its core promise.
According to him on Starr fm, the policy, which was introduced to ensure stress free payment of fees for level 100 tertiary students, has rather turned into what he described as post stress support.
He explained that students are required to pay their fees first before applying for reimbursement, a situation he believes defeats the purpose of the policy.
He questioned claims by government officials that the policy has been successful and that citizens are happy.
In his view, such claims do not reflect the lived realities of many Ghanaians. He stressed that while some people may appear satisfied, many others continue to struggle.
Dennis Miracles Aboagye pointed to the situation of trained teachers and nurses who have been picketing for nearly six months, demanding employment.
He noted that government responses suggesting it cannot accommodate all of them contradict claims of economic stability.
He further argued that economic indicators such as a stable currency mean little to people who are unable to secure jobs or access promised support.
He observed that telling an unemployed teacher or a struggling student that the cedi has strengthened does not address their immediate challenges.
On the issue of tertiary education, he maintained that no level 100 student benefited from stress free fees in 2025, despite the policy being announced.
He added that in 2026, students have already reported to school without receiving the promised support.
He insisted that asking students to pay fees first and seek reimbursement later amounts to support after hardship, not stress free education.
According to him, this approach goes against what was promised during the policy announcement.
Dennis Miracles Aboagye questioned why a government that presents the economy as strong is unable to fulfil what he described as simple and clear promises.
He added that there is a fundamental problem with the way the economy is being managed and indicated that he is prepared to explain his position further.
By: Jacob Aggrey
