Jirapa's 2026 Bong-Ngo Festival: A bold blueprint for cultural pride, regional growth

Correspondence from Eastern Region

The sacred grounds of Jirapa were transformed into a vibrant center of tradition and strategic vision this week as the community gathered for the 2026 Bong-Ngo Festival.

Led by a powerful keynote address from Naa Dinaa Donglabong Ganaa III, Paramount Chief of the Jirapa Traditional Area, the event served as both a celebration of heritage and a firm call for regional progress.

Guided by the theme, "Reawakening Our Roots: Reviving Bong-Ngo for Cultural Pride, Social Responsibility, and Sustainable Development," the festival underscored a central message: tradition and modernity must work in tandem to secure the district’s future.

In his state-of-the-area address, Naa Ganaa III reaffirmed the loyalty of his people to national leadership while clearly articulating Jirapa’s developmental priorities.

Highlighting the town’s role as a vital transit hub, the Paramount Chief made a compelling case for Jirapa to host the proposed new regional hospital. "Jirapa stands at the heart of connectivity," Naa Ganaa III stated.

"As the government considers upgrading regional healthcare to support the UBIDS Medical School, we firmly submit that Jirapa is the most strategic location for this facility."

Beyond healthcare, the Paramount Chief lobbied for the "Big Push" Road Project to be routed through the district, emphasising that the route is essential for shortening travel times to Hamile and neighboring northern countries a move that would significantly catalyze trade, agriculture and logistics across the region.

The festival also addressed the immediate challenges facing the grassroots by highlighting several critical service gaps.

The Paramount Chief noted the urgent need for reliable transportation for Jirapa SHS, the installation of security fencing at the Community Health Training College and the completion of stalled projects, specifically the St Joseph’s Hospital administration block.

"These are not just infrastructure gaps; they are opportunities for responsible leadership," he remarked, urging government agencies to partner with the Traditional Council to resolve these long-standing issues through dedicated intervention.

A standout moment of the ceremony was the announcement of tangible support for the youth, moving the dialogue from advocacy to direct action.

The Paramount Chief revealed that local organizations have stepped up to fund the education of promising students, notably the Awelle Foundation, which has officially adopted Pius Zinenoba, a high achieving but financially challenged Doctor of Pharmacy student at the University of Cape Coast.

Furthermore, the College for Community and Organizational Development (CCOD) has awarded five full scholarships for degree and master’s programs specifically for Jirapa’s youth.

"This is the spirit we celebrate," the Paramount Chief noted.

"When we call, our own respond. I urge all our sons and daughters both home and abroad not to sit on the fence. In lifting one child, we lift a family."

As the festivities concluded, Naa Ganaa III left the youth with a message of resilience and identity, reminding the gathering that while the world changes, the strength of the Jirapa people remains rooted in shared values.

"In Jirapa, we do not mourn change we shape it," he concluded.

"We will preserve our identity and build a future where culture, responsibility, and development walk hand in hand."

The 2026 Bong-Ngo Festival concludes not just as a display of culture, but as a roadmap for a community determined to take charge of its own destiny.

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