B/A Minister Leaves For GhanaFest 2007

Sunyani, July 12, Space FM - The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr. Ignatius Baffour Awuah, leaves Accra on Friday, July 13, 2007 for the largest and most spectacular Ghanaian Cultural Festival in the diaspora, GhanaFest, scheduled for July 28, 2007 in Chicago, USA.

The minister would fly to Canada where he would be hosted by Brong Ahafo citizens resident in the country to discuss the progress of the region and how best to assist in further development projects.

From Canada, the regional minister would then move straight to Chicago for the annual cultural festival.

In a predeparture interview with Space FM, Mr Baffour Awuah, who many believed was going to be affected by president Kuffour's ministerial reshuffle, said "all things being equal, I should be in Chicago for the event and I hope it is going be a good platform to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Brong Ahafo region".

Mr Baffour Awuah is expected back home on July 30.

It is believed that the minister would make a strong cultural impression since he is a strong advocate for the promotion and protection of the rich Ghanaian cultural heritage.

Mr. Baffour Awuah is one of the few ministers mostly seen at public functions in traditional custom.

Of all of the Ghanaian festivals in the Diaspora, Chicago's Ghanaian cultural celebration is exclusive and offers a mixture of different Ghanaian cultures and traditions on the same stage. Majority of the attendees are members of the Ghanaian-American community in Chicago and Ghanaians across the Globe.

Three time world champion and Ghanaian boxing legend, Azumah "Zoom Zoom" Nelson and former Public Sector Reform minister, Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, are also expected to attend the programme.

Former Ghanaian president, Jerry John Rawlings, Mayor Richard Daley of Chicago, Nation of Islam leader, Louis Farrakhan and almost all past Ghanaian Ambassadors in the US have in the past made appearances at the festival, according to Ghanaweb.

The keynote speaker is the Chief-Executive and owner of the Korle-Bu Medical Hospital in Chicago, Dr. John A. Awuah, according to Ghanaweb. There is also a large group of non-Ghanaians presence at the festival. At GhanaFest, one will expect to see a procession of richly dressed chiefs and queens; endless dancing to variety of Ghanaian music; traditional performances, African Arts and Craft, and lots of delicious and authentic Ghanaian food.

GhanaFest, a brainchild of the Ghana Chicago Club, a Ghanaian investment and Social Club, began as a small festival in Jackson Park for the Ga-Dangme ethnic group in Chicago in 1987.

According to Ghanaweb, a major sponsor of the event, the first celebration was so successful and strongly supported by the Ghanaian community in Chicago. In 1990, Ghana National Council, an umbrella organization for Ghanaian associations in Chicago, eventually became the key organizer of the event and hence named it GhanaFest.

“Today the small community event that started almost two decades ago is now the largest Ghanaian cultural celebrations of its kind in the diaspora and attracts over ten thousand participants yearly”, Ghanaweb said. The organizers have recently brought the festival to the global audience by their massive advertisement on Ghanaweb and other major Ghanaian and other news sources coupled with the attendance by notable Ghanaian officials.

The organizers of Ghanafest, an outdoor exhibition with a makeup theme of a Cultural Exposition, are taking a different approach to the festival this year. The Ghanaian musician Union who have been missing in previous years' will perform at the festival. They Union is made up of all Ghanaian bands in the Chicago area. They are led by the talented Dan Boadi , Joe Atiso , Sam Ghansah and Nii Amanor,( The Keybard Wizard!)As usual, the top DJ's in Chicago will be there to show their spinning skills!

Lovers of Gospel Music will not be disappointed at the festival as Nat Awuni, Aziza, Diana Akiwumi, Stella Dugan and Davis Wiafe will be at Ghanafest for the first time to roar the crowd in Chicago with their marvelous dances and beautiful voices. It will be a show reserved for the early birds since their performance is scheduled to come off at the early stages of the program.

Those who have not seen live Kente weaving will have the opportunity to witness one this year at Ghanafest. The renown Ghanaian Kente weaver , Mr. Asare Kweku, will be handling the 'loom" thought by historians to have been developed around the 17th century, as usual with mastery and dexterity. You may have the chance to try your hands on the loom! You cannot miss out on this!

The keynote speaker is Chicago's own Dr. John Awah, owner of Korle-Bu Medical Center in Chicago.

Mr. CNN, will be a special Ghanaweb photo-journalist at the festival. Other media that has expressed interest in covering the festival includes, Chicago's only "mouth piece" The African Spectrum, The Africast T.V Networks, GTV, BET and other FM Radio stations in Ghana.

Members of the public who patronize Ghanafest raffle tickets will have a lot of items to try their luck on this year as the GNC has approved a polaroid TV as the first prize and many other consolation prizes that includes DVD and CD players. Art and Craft Vendors will pay $70.00 per 10 by 10 inches booth space whilst corporate spaces will go for $500.00 .

DJ's and musicians attending the festival and want to participate should email CBOAHENE@sbcglobal.net to register ASAP.

MoneyGram International is inviting 100 Ghanaians living in the Chicago area to a special invitation only lavish dinner on July 27 2007 from 6 P.M to 10 P.M . Interested parties should email afuaba2004@yahoo.com .

There will be a community Church Service on Sunday, July 29 2007 at 1937 S. Michigan from 1 PM to 3 PM.