Osu traditional council launches 2016 Homowo Festival

The Osu Traditional Council has launched its 2016 Homowo Festival which focuses on setting up the Osu Tourism Management Committee to improve on the tourism potentials of the area and create jobs for the citizens.

The Committee would receive directions from the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Arts and the Ghana Tourism Authority in carrying out its duties.

The Homowo Festival, which means hooting at hunger, is celebrated by the Ga-Dangmes in Greater Accra which is characterised by the sprinkling of Kpokpoi and palm nut soup to signify their gratitude to the gods for blessing them with bumper harvest.

Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona VI, the Paramount Chief of the Osu Traditional Area and the President of the Council, launched the festival at a news conference at his Palace on Tuesday.

This year’s Homowo is on the theme: “Tourism, a key Component in Community Development,” aimed at creating diversity in the celebration to expose the tourism potentials of the area to both local and foreign participants.

The one-month festival includes a Homowo lecture, health walk and screening and clean-up exercises.

It would be climaxed on September 4 with a church service at the Osu Presbyterian Church.

Nii Kinka Dowuona said tourism created employment and generated revenue for community development.

Considering the geographical area in terms of land size of the Osu Traditional Area, the Council was putting up some infrastructure to augment government’s efforts in developing and attracting tourists to the area, he said.

Nii Kinka Dowuona said Osu had a lot to showcase namely the Klottey Shrine and the Royal Mausoleum for tourism promotion and job creation.

He said: “Osu is also blessed to have the Seat of Government on our land, State House, Parliament House, Banquette Hall, Christiansburg Castle, Accra International Conference Centre and the Accra Sports Stadium among others and we must take advantage of the exposures these edifices bring to develop the area”.

Nii Kinka Dowuona, therefore, appealed to companies working in the area to support the Council in its endeavours to enhance the living conditions of the people.

He called on the residents to work in unity and ensure that peace prevailed for a successful celebration of the Homowo Festival.