By Naa Shormei Odonkor
Kumasi, April 16, GNA – Dr Frank Amoakohene, the Ashanti Regional Minister, has pledged to support the Center for National Culture (CNC) in the region to promote cultural heritage of the people.
He said culture and traditions helped to know the route of people and gave them a unique identity, hence, could not be overlooked in the country’s development agenda.
Dr Amoakohene made the pledge during the fourth day of the ongoing Ashanti Festival, which is underway at the Kumasi Cultural Centre.
The fourth day saw the display of cultural dances, drama, poetry recitals and choral music from schools and groups in the morning, food bazaar in the afternoon and Jama performances from various groups in the evening.
The event was attended by over ten senior high and basic schools, security persons such as the Ghana Prisons Service, the Ghana Ambulance Service, and the Ghana Police Service, among others.
Also, in attendance at the event were the Ashanti Regional Education Director, Nana Ama McBrown, Joseph Osei, popularly known as Wayoosi and other Kumawood movie stars.
Dr Amoakohene also disclosed his intentions to link the designers’ association in the region to Kumawood to design costumes for movie characters.
He said the festival, which was the maiden edition, aimed to unite all sectors of the economy to enhance the development of the region and the country.
“The Ashanti Festival has come to stay,” he noted
He expressed satisfaction with the attendance and performances on the fourth day of the festival and thanked all the participants for making the festival interesting.
Mr Emmanuel J.P Mensah, Head of the Performing Arts Department of the Ashanti Regional CNC, said the festival was a big avenue to unearth talents and promote arts and culture.
“As a nation, we have a bright future in the performing arts industry.
The students exhibited unparalleled artistic ingenuity.
Looking at their ages and performances, they were awesome,” he observed.
However, he said there was some polishing to be done with the performers in costume, diction and stagecraft to perfect their skills.
Mr Mensah hoped that the initiative would gain the needed support and sponsorship to ensure its sustainability as it was a major boost for the economy in tourism and hospitality.
GNA
KOM/CA
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Syndigate.info
).