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Akwasidae: The rich cultural pageantry of the Ashanti Kingdom
The rhythmic sounds of the fontomfrom drums echoed through the skies, announcing the arrival of the highly anticipated Akwasidae celebration. Held every six weeks, this cultural extravaganza is not just a festival; it is a regal display of the Ashanti Kingdom’s heritage, an embodiment of unity, and a moment to honour its proud lineage.
This year’s Akwasidae, held at the iconic Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, was a spectacle of grandeur. The sprawling courtyard was adorned with the colourful kente cloths of attendees, their intricate patterns shimmering in the sunlight. Chiefs and queen mothers arrived with their entourage with each chief’s regalia a dazzling reflection of power and tradition.
Appellations by court criers heralds the arrival of the Asantehene through formal announcements, ensuring the crowd remains attentive and also declarations, royal messages, blessings, and reminders about the cultural significance of the festival, reinforcing its importance to the Ashanti heritage.
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the custodian of Ashanti culture, would finally sit majestically on the Golden Stool. He is draped in a vibrant kente cloth and crowned with gold ornaments, symbolised the continuity of a kingdom that has stood tall for centuries.
As he received homage from subjects, chiefs, and dignitaries, the crowd erupted in cheers, a testament to the deep reverence for their monarch.
The celebration was a mix of solemnity and jubilation. The Akom priests led prayers and libations, invoking the spirits of ancestors and asking for guidance and blessings. The rituals were punctuated by the enthralling performances of traditional drummers, dancers, and singers who narrated the kingdom’s history through music and movement.
Visitors from across the world flocked to Kumasi to witness this extraordinary event. “The energy here is electric,” remarked a tourist from Germany. “It’s not just a festival; it’s a living history lesson.”
Akwasidae is more than just a cultural celebration; it is also an occasion for reconciliation and unity. Families, separated by distance or disputes, use this sacred day to mend bonds and strengthen ties. Communities gather to deliberate on development issues, ensuring progress while remaining anchored in their heritage.
The festival is also a boon for tourism and commerce, where local artisans displayed their craftsmanship, beads, carvings, pottery, and textiles—while food vendors offered traditional delicacies like fufu with light soup, apapransa and a special traditional khebab.
As the sun set over Manhyia, the festivities showed no signs of waning. The drummers’ beats grew livelier, the dances more animated, and the crowd more jubilant. It was an emotional reminder that Akwasidae is not just a date on a calendar but a celebration of identity, resilience, and the unbreakable spirit of the Ashanti people.
Indeed, Akwasidae remains a shining example of Ghana’s cultural wealth and a proud beacon of African heritage. Whether you’re an Ashanti royal, a curious traveller, or simply an admirer of tradition, this festival offers an unforgettable experience that lingers in the heart long after the last drumbeat fades.
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Minister for Education leads monitoring visit to BECE Centres
As part of efforts to encourage candidates writing the 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrissu has led a government delegation to the 5 Garrison Education Centre and Emmause Cluster of Schools earlier today in Accra.
The visit aimed at monitoring the conduct of the examination, interacting with candidates, and offering words of motivation.
The minister urged the students to remain focused, confident, and determined, encouraging them to do their best to make themselves and the nation proud.
Accompanying the Education minister were the Minister for Defence, Edward Omane Boamah; Deputy Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs and Member of Parliament for La Dadekotopon, Rita Naa Odoley Sowah and the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Prof. Ernest Davis.
The rest included the Chief Director of the Ministry of Education, Mrs. Maamle Andrews; and the Municipal Chief Executive for La Dadekotopon, Alfredos Nii Anyetei.
Other dignitaries present also reiterated government’s commitment to educational excellence and the holistic development of every Ghanaian child.
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Interior Minister calls for correctional reform as Prisons Service graduates New Officers
Speaking at the Passing-Out Parade of Recruit Course 125 at Ankaful Prison Officers’ Training School in the Central Region, the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak has emphasized the need for correctional reform in Ghana, highlighting the government’s commitment to transforming the Prisons Service into a modern correctional facility that focuses on rehabilitation, reformation and reintegration.
He noted that Government remains committed to expanding vocational training, educational programmes and productive inmate enterprises that reinforce rehabilitation, reformation and reintegration.
The minister pointed out that correctional facilities must become centers of reform, not just detention.
According to him, “is not an act of charity but a strategic investment in national security and human capital. When we empower an inmate with employable skills, we reduce the opportunity for that inmate to re-offend. Rehabilitation and reformation do not occur in isolation but must be linked to purposeful activity.”
To give practical effect to this policy, Muntaka Mohamed-Mubarak announced that Government will scale up support for prison-based ventures, saying that entures such as carpentry, tailoring, agriculture, and industrial operations, including bottled water production, will be central to a sustainable, self-reliant correctional economy.
The Minister also directed all institutions under the Ministry for the Interior to prioritise the purchase of bottled water and toilet rolls produced by the Ghana Prisons Service.
This, he said, will not only reduce the financial burden on the state but also generate revenue and promote inmates’ productivity.
He reassured the leadership and personnel of the Ghana Prisons Service of the Government’s unwavering support, emphasizing that the commitment goes beyond improving logistics and infrastructure to reforming the very foundation of correctional practice in Ghana.
Muntaka Mubarak urged the new officers to serve with integrity, compassion, and professionalism, and assured them that their actions would reflect the high standards of the Service and the trust the nation has placed in them.
