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‘Let’s continue to promote our rich culture’ – Okatakyie Nana Anim I
The Saanahene (Royal Treasurer) of Ati Amanfrom near New Tafo Akyem Abuakwa in the Eastern Region, Okatakyie Nana Anim I, has commended efforts made by the government, individuals and interest groups in promoting various aspects of the Ghanaian culture both home and abroad.
He described the “See, Eat, Feel, Taste Ghana” campaign launched by the Ministry of Tourism about three years ago as a worthy initiative citizens must continue to support.
the Ambassador of Suriname,
at the event
was present
“What makes us Ghanaian are our cultural values and identity. It is time we woke up, used our local music, cuisine, among others to promote tourism,” he said.
Okatakyie Nana Anim I made the remarks when members and executives of Pan Africa Ghana (PAG) met last Wednesday in Accra to discuss issues pertaining to preserving African and Ghanaian heritage.
addressing the gathering
PAG is a group of professionals championing African ideals. It intends, among other things, to promote African enterprises using music, arts and culture for socio-economic development.
It again aims to deepen ties between the African continent and the Diaspora while working towards the enlightenment of African men and women.
In line with these objectives, Mr Ras Appiah-Levi, Founding President of the group encouraged young people to “learn their history and rediscover themselves.”
He spoke extensively on the essence of preserving the rich African and Ghanaian culture and tasked musicians to produce songs that reflected our cultural values instead of promoting promiscuity.
The Roots Reggae Music Singer and Performer announced some initiatives PAG would embark on to help “redirect” the 21st century youth who, he believed, were going off-track in terms of their cultural identity.
Mr Ras Appiah-Levi announced “Musicians on Pan Africa Tour” project which he said was intended to foster friendship and unity among Africans across the world.
Present at the forum were Mrs. Fidelia Graand-Galon, the Ambassador of Surinam, Community Education and Youth Development Activist, Dr. Akosua Abdallah, and other traditional leaders and dignitaries.
By Spectator Reporter
The professor who spends his days exploring the intricacies of African languages found himself at the centre of a different kind of lesson on Friday, October 2, 2026. 
This time, there were no lecture notes, academic arguments or university classrooms. Instead, there was the weight of tradition, the rhythm of a community celebration and the solemnity of an oath at a royal palace.
Professor Ọbádélé Kambon, a full Professor of African Linguistics at the University of Ghana, was enstooled as Apagyahene and Sunsum Ɔsahene of Akuapem Mampong in the Eastern Region in a ceremony that brought academia and traditional authority together.
For the professor, the occasion was more than a new title. It was a moment that connected his academic interests in African languages and indigenous knowledge with the living traditions of an Akan community.
The day’s events unfolded through a series of customary observances. Kambon was first taken to the compounds of the Ɔkyeamehene and Gyasehene, where the preparations for his installation continued.
Then came the application of hyire, the white kaolin powder associated with traditional rites.
With the customary proceedings underway, the new chief was lifted onto the shoulders of celebrants and carried along the main thoroughfare of Akuapem Mampong.
The procession transformed the streets into a public stage for a ceremony rooted in the community’s traditional institutions.
There was something striking about the image, a university professor, accustomed to the measured language of academic discourse, being carried through the town in a display of traditional recognition.
Yet the celebration was not complete with the procession.
A ram was sacrificed at the Mamponghene’s compound before Kambon was taken to the palace, to swear the oath associated with his new offices.
The ceremony brought him formally into his roles as Apagyahene and Sunsum Ɔsahene.
Beyond the colourful proceedings, the titles themselves carry layers of historical meaning.
Kambon in his research explores the historical connections between Apagya and Akan political and military organisation.
Accounts cited in his work linked Apagya to an asafo, or military company, while historical writing traces an Apagya stool in Asante to the reign of Opoku Ware I in the eighteenth century.
These historical associations offer a glimpse into the institutions that have shaped Akan society over generations, although they do not automatically define the precise responsibilities of the office in Akuapem Mampong.
Kambon’s own professional life reflects a similar interest in preserving and examining African knowledge.
His work encompasses Akan language structure, naming practices across the Black world, proverbs and indigenous intellectual traditions.
Through Abibitumi, the platform he founded, he also promotes language learning, scholarship and cultural engagement.
But tradition was only one part of the story that day.
When the formal ceremony gave way to a reception, the occasion expanded into a celebration of three milestones: Kambon’s enstoolment, his promotion to full professor and his daughter Ama’s admission to the University of Ghana.
The gathering therefore carried a personal significance that went beyond the honours bestowed on one man. 
It celebrated professional advancement, the continuation of family aspirations and a connection to cultural heritage.
For a father, seeing a daughter gain admission to the same university where he holds a distinguished academic position offered another reason to celebrate.
For the professor, the moment placed family achievement alongside his own professional and traditional milestones.
Kambon had already established a place in the traditional life of Akuapem Mampɔn through an earlier installation as Banmuhene Kyidɔmhene, recorded in 2017.
His latest enstoolment adds another chapter to that relationship.
In Akuapem Mampɔn, the day brought together the university, the palace and the family table in one celebration. And for Kambon, the journey from the lecture room to the traditional procession showed how scholarship, cultural responsibility and family achievement could converge in a single memorable occasion.
By Enoch Ntiamoah Siaw
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Intercity STC Coaches Limited has interdicted a driver captured in a viral video allegedly hitting a Sprinter bus during an overtaking manoeuvre at Pokuase before driving away from the scene.
In a public notice, the company described the driver’s conduct as unacceptable, stressing that it did not reflect the safety standards and professionalism it upholds.
Management said it had commenced an immediate investigation into the incident and identified the driver, who has been interdicted pending the outcome of the disciplinary process.
The company added that it was awaiting an official report from the Pokuase Police Command to help establish the facts surrounding the incident.
STC reaffirmed its commitment to passenger safety and responsible road use, while thanking members of the public for bringing the incident to its attention.
Management assured the public that appropriate action would be taken following the investigation.
By: Jacob Aggrey
