Dodowa (G/A), Oct. 2, GNA - A prolonged heavy down pour prevented the chiefs and people of the Shai Traditional Area from holding a durbar that was to climax festivities, marking their annual Ngmayem festival at Dodowa over the weekend.
A combination of factors, such as late start of the function, an earlier shooting of an unidentified man by a policeman that sent panic across the town, coupled with petty organisational hitches, contributed to the event not taking off before the start of the rain, after 1200 noon.
The rains crowned the catalogue of mishaps that affected the festival. The heavily patronised event was also to witness 'Sekoje' the return to the traditional area by some Shais, who migrated to Togo, could not come off.
Frantic efforts by the Member of Parliament for the Dangme West, Mr David Assumeng, officials from the District Administration, Madam Gloria Akufo, Deputy Regional Minister to re-assemble the people in case the rains stopped, failed to yield any dividends, as the rains persisted late into late afternoon.
The Paramount Chief of the Shai State, Nene Nagai Kasa VII, in a message which could not be read but issued to reporters praised government's efforts at creating a peaceful environment in the country, which he said is serving as a pre-condition for accelerated development. Nene Nagai also commended the government's fee-free education programme to ensure good education.
In support of making Ghanata Secondary School a model school, Nene Nagai on behalf of the state promised to construct one staff bungalow for the school.
He, however, appealed to the funding authorities of the Ghanata School to provide a school bus from the GetFund and also include an assembly hall; water, electricity and access road to the school in the building plan to make it complete.
"I meant to emphasise that it does no good to waste our valuable human and material resources in fighting disputes, which could have been used for development, Nene Nagai charged his subjects. He reminded the youth to abstain from drugs, which he said gave rise to the dreaded HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Meanwhile, Nene Okukrubuor Teye Kwesi Agyemang the fifth, Krontihene of the traditional area has hinted that the traditional council will convene an emergency meeting next week to review the festival that never was.
The rest of the activities on the programme for the festival are ongoing with a visit to the ancestral home at Shai Hills and a state dance. A five-mile walk from Ayikuma to Dodowa and clean-up exercise preceded the festal. Cow Bell Food Drink sponsored the walk.
