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The Adinkra Poetry Prize 2024 calls for poetic expressions on culture, politics, and change
In a celebration of Ghanaian culture and heritage, The Adinkra Poetry Prize is excited to announce its call for poetry submissions that engage with three selected Adinkra symbols out of the over 200 existing symbols.
The focus for this year includes Fihankra, Nkyinkyim, and Mate Masie. Esteemed preliminary judges for this edition are Emma Ofosua, Apiorkor, and Ko-jo Cue. The head judge for the prize is Professor Esi Sutherland-Addy.
As we approach the upcoming election year, The Adinkra Poetry Prize invites interested people to offer words that surprise, excite, frustrate, and incite change.
They are looking for poetry that serves as a song for change, a chant, a prayer, a potential new national anthem, or guidelines to hold Ghanaians accountable to the cause of the nation and its citizens, “exploring the complexities of love or criticism for our relationship with our beloved nation.”
Writers are encouraged to submit their poetic expressions, with each poem responding to or thoughtfully engaging with the chosen Adinkra symbols within the context of Ghana’s current political and socio-economic landscape.
The competition is open to writers aged 18 and above who are Ghanaian citizens currently residing in Ghana.
The 2024 Adinkra Poetry Prize is generously supported by the Center for Humanities at the University of New Hampshire, the Mellon Mays Foundation, and the All African Women Poetry Festival.
For the prizes, winners in each category will receive $200, and three (3) Finalists will be awarded $70.
Finalists and winners will be officially announced in May 2023 and will be invited to an awards ceremony at the prestigious All African Women Poetry Festival.
Additionally, finalists will also have the opportunity to apply for the WaterMill Residency. Selected submissions will be considered for publication in a digital anthology.
For the written submissions, the writers will be asked to transcribe their work for publication.
Applicants should note that the committee reserves the right to withhold awards based on the quality of submissions.
As part of the submission guidelines, an applicant is expected to submit a maximum of three (3) poems per submission, with each poem directly or indirectly identifying the chosen Adinkra symbol, and limit one submission per person; additional submissions will not be considered.
Poems may vary in length, style, or subject but must incorporate the chosen Adinkra symbol and its meaning.
Organisers have urged participants to exclude any identifying information from the submission document and submit unpublished poems only.
“Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but please inform us if your work is selected elsewhere.For any inquiries or questions, please email [adinkrapoetryprize@gmail.com].
Submission Guidelines (Spoken Word): Submit a recorded poem (video) not exceeding 1 minute, with each poem identifying the chosen Adinkra symbol you are responding to. Avoid including your name in the recorded video,” they added.
Deadline for submission is February 15, 2024.
The Adinkra Poetry Prize eagerly awaits thought-provoking and inspirational poetry submissions in celebrating Ghana’s rich cultural heritage through the power of words, and let your voice be heard as we shape the future of our nation together.
Massive celebrations were recorded countrywide as the Black Stars opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over Panama in Toronto on Wednesday.
Midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi scored the only goal of the match late in the game as he shot in a decent cross from substitute Brandon Asante.
The win gave Ghana a positive start in the competition, placing them in second position behind England, also with three points but with a superior goal aggregate.
After the final whistle, the streets and other viewing centres were turned into partying grounds as fans, mostly clad in the team’s paraphernalia, danced to several World Cup-themed music.
Others blew the vuvuzelas in joyous mood with others putting up a spirited ‘jama’ session.
Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the Adentan Constituency, Akosua Manu, has urged party members to move away from what she describes as an “entitlement mentality” and focus on unity, sacrifice and hard work as the party prepares for the 2028 general election.
In a statement titled “Is Loyalty a Queue?”, and posted on facebook, Ms. Manu argued that loyalty to the NPP should not be judged by how long a person has been in the party but by their contributions and commitment to its growth.
According to her, the NPP’s history shows that many of its leaders faced significant opposition from within the party before eventually leading it to electoral success.
She cited former President John Agyekum Kufuor as an example, saying he had to overcome resistance from influential figures within the party before winning power for the NPP in 2000.
Ms. Manu noted that after the party lost power in 2008, former President Kufuor faced criticism and accusations from some party members.
However, she said supporters eventually put their differences aside and worked together to rebuild the party.
She pointed to the experience of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who, according to her, faced opposition from some factions within the NPP despite his long service to the party.
“His trials were ten times what Kufuor endured,” she stated, adding that Akufo-Addo eventually overcame the challenges and became President of Ghana.
Turning to the NPP’s current flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Ms. Manu said he also faced resistance from different groups within the party while seeking leadership.
She praised Dr. Bawumia for contributing to policy-based political discussions in Ghana and for remaining composed following the NPP’s defeat in the 2024 elections.
According to her, party members must now rally behind him in the same way they supported former Presidents Kufuor and Akufo-Addo.
Ms. Manu, however, warned that internal divisions and a sense of entitlement remain major threats to the party’s future.
She argued that some party members place too much emphasis on how long individuals have belonged to the NPP rather than on their contributions and capabilities.
“This entitlement does not question impact. It does not ask what you sacrificed or what you built. It asks only how long have you been here,” she said.
The former parliamentary candidate cautioned that such attitudes could discourage committed members and prevent the party from selecting the best people for leadership positions.
She further called on the party’s incoming national executives to strengthen the NPP’s core values of sacrifice, honesty, integrity and dedication to national development.
Ms. Manu addressed the concerns of young party supporters, many of whom she said became discouraged following the NPP’s electoral defeat in 2024.
According to her, many young people remain eager to see the party return to power but are unwilling to support internal conflicts driven by personal ambitions.
She urged party elders to place the interests of the NPP above their individual goals and to demonstrate leadership that attracts rather than alienates members.
“The NPP is bigger than any one of us. It always has been. Our collective responsibility is to act like it,” she stated.
By: Jacob Aggrey
