President directs organization of Homofest

President John Dramani Mahama has called for the organization of ‘Homofest’ (homogeneous festival) of the Ga-Dangme chiefs and people to climax their Homowo festival this year.

To this end Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, has presented a draft programme to the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs for study and their inputs.

The Homofest would be launched on September 5 and it will aim at promoting tourism through the rich culture and tradition of the Ga-Dangmes.

Mrs Ofosu-Agyare said this at a meeting with the members of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs at Guggisberg Hall at Dodowa on Wednesday.

She was accompanied by Dr Henry Seidu Danaa, the Minister of Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs, Mr Isaac Djangma Vanderpuye, Minister of State, Mr Joseph Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo, the Greater Accra Regional Minister and Nii Lante Vanderpuye, the Deputy Minister for Local Government and Rural Development.

The Tourism Minister said Homowo was one of the most beautiful festivals in Ghana which could promote tourism and national cohesion, “therefore let us help popularize Homowo to promote home coming of our people living outside.”

“We have to ensure that our culture and tradition live on and protect them for our younger generation and for people to see and accorded us the due respect wherever may be as Ga-Dangmes.”

Mrs Ofosu-Agyare said the Ministry Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs and the Greater Accra Regional Security Council would collaborate in the organization of the Homofest including the 16 district assemblies in the region.

She said the ceremony is scheduled for September 27, to coincide with the World Tourism Day which would be preceded with a massive clean-up in the region aimed at “hooting at filth and cholera.”

There would be a photo exhibition and traditional food bazaar to depict the culture of the people.

Nii Afotey-Agbo said the President was passionate about the organization of the Homofest to showcase the rich culture and tradition of the chiefs and people of Ga-Dangme after their annual Homowo festival.

He said it was the view of the President that the Homofest would give them the platform to speak with one voice to tell government their needs and challenges for the development of the region as well as to unite the chiefs and people.

Dr Danaa said the organization of the Homofest was very important and chieftaincy, tradition and culture were essential ingredients in the development of a country and asked the chiefs to support the initiative.

The members of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs unanimously accepted the draft programme of the Homofest and expressed gratitude to the President for his laudable idea.

They appealed to the President to create an avenue for them to have some interaction with him on certain pertinent issues that had been a worry to them.

The members of the House of Chiefs urged the Ministers to work hand-in-hand with them for a successful arrangement.