Maiden Klamakpasafest celebrated at Kordiabe amid calls for roads, SHS, jobs

The Queen Mother of Kordiabe, Nana Naki Otutuabo II, has appealed to the government to construct a senior high school, rehabilitate roads and create employment opportunities for young people in the community and surrounding areas.

She said the provision of these facilities would improve access to education, ease transportation challenges and provide better opportunities for the youth.

Speaking at the maiden edition of Klamakpasafest 2026 at Kordiabe in the Greater Accra Region, Nana Naki Otutuabo II said the community needed a senior high school to serve residents and those in nearby communities, including Doryumu, Agomeda and Manya Jorpanya.

“We need a senior high school here for Kordiabe and surrounding communities like Doryumu, Agomeda and Manya Jorpanya to access secondary education. We're lagging behind in education, so a school will be beneficial,” she said.

She also appealed for the rehabilitation of roads in the area, citing the dusty conditions and their potential health implications for residents.

“Our roads are in bad shape, and we're suffering from asthma, so we plead for the rehabilitation of the roads,” she added.

The queen mother further called for the establishment of a police station to strengthen security and the creation of employment opportunities to address the needs of unemployed young people.

She urged parents to prioritise their children's education by investing in their future and ensuring that they attended school.

Nana Naki Otutuabo II also advised young people to avoid drug abuse and cautioned girls against teenage pregnancy.

Klamakpasafest promotes cultural preservation

The festival, organised by CF Community Focus TV, was held under the theme “Uniting the Shai State through Culture, the Black Star Experience in Focus.”

It sought to educate young people about the customs, traditions and cultural identity of the Shai people while promoting unity among traditional authorities and communities.

Nana Naki Otutuabo II said the festival was intended to prevent the community's cultural heritage from being lost and to ensure that younger generations understood their roots.

“We're using this event to educate our children on our culture and customs. We're the Shai people; we don't want our culture to get lost. If we forget our culture, then we wouldn't know where we're heading,” she said.

She stressed the importance of unity and encouraged parents to invest in their children's education to secure their future.

Manye Djowah Narkie Yopeyo I, Kordiabe Madaam Manye, said the celebration was organised partly in response to concerns about how young people were learning and displaying Shai culture in schools.

She said the festival would be held annually to sustain cultural education and ensure that the traditions of the Shai people were passed on to future generations.

According to her, the organisers had consulted the Ministry of Tourism for support towards the initiative.

Traditional leaders call for unity

Setse Teye Tsaano IV, Stool Father of the Shai Paramountcy and President of the Shai Stool Fathers Association, also called for unity among traditional leaders and the people to protect their cultural heritage.

He cautioned against abandoning customs and traditions, warning that doing so could undermine the identity of the Shai people.

He emphasised the need for traditional authorities to work together to preserve their heritage and strengthen unity across the Shai State.

The maiden edition of Klamakpasafest featured a series of cultural, sporting and tourism activities from October 12 to 18, 2026.

The programme began with a clean-up exercise and a gala, followed by a float and a Shai dialogue on Tuesday, October 13.

The official opening and football gala took place on Wednesday, October 14, while Thursday's activities included an inter-clan cooking competition and a fireside session.

Participants also visited the Shai Hills on Friday, October 16, alongside a fashion show.

The festival's durbar, which brought together traditional leaders and community members, was held on Saturday, October 17, alongside the Face of Kpasafest contest.

The week-long celebration concluded on Sunday, October 18, with a thanksgiving service and live band performances.

Through the festival, the organisers sought to promote cultural education, strengthen unity among the Shai people and showcase the area's cultural and tourism potential.