Edina 'Bakatue' Festival Held in Peace

The chiefs and people of Edina Traditional Area last Tuesday celebrated their annual "Bakatue" Festival amid pomp and pageantry, with a firm promise from President J. A. Kufuor that the Elmina fishing harbour, which had remained on the drawing board from many years, will soon definitely be constructed by his administration.

Even though this year's festival was not given the usual publicity associated with it, it was attended by thousands of people from all walks of life more than was the case during the last two years.

Making the promise, Hon. Yaw Barimah, Minister of Works and Housing, who represented the government, assured the people that President Kufuor has not forgotten the promise he made to the people of Elmina, stressing that apart from the fishing harbour, the government will also ensure that the Benya river is desalted periodically to enhance fishing in town.

He said arrangements are underway for a Dutch company to provide a machine in the country to assist in desalting the Korle Lagoon, the Benya River and other water bodies periodically.

Hon. Yaw Barimah, who is also the MP for Koforidua, was full of praise that the festivals had been held in a peaceful atmosphere for the first time in many years.

He told the people that the NPP government will forge ahead with its zero tolerance for corruption and urged them not to believe the lies being peddled against some ministers of state by some disgruntled politicians.

The Central Regional Minister, Hon. Isaac Eduasar Edumadze, who earlier spoke, commended the people of Edina for holding this year's festival peacefully devoid of the usual court actions as obtained in the past.

He called on the people to learn to forget about events of the past to enhance peaceful co-existence.

He noted that the NPP government is just some 16 months in office, yet some people are going about saying that the government has not done anything.

The Regional Minister noted that immoral behaviour of the youth of late is a serious problem facing the government.

Present were Mr. Kwamina Essilfie, adviser to President Kufuor, members of the Diplomatic Corps, who were entertained to a regatta and a cruise on the river with specially decorated canoes and beautifully dressed women to grace the occasion.