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The Techiman South Educational Directorate has successfully organized this year’s Basic Schools Festival of Arts and Culture at the Ohene Ameyaw Park, with the goal of instilling Ghanaian cultural values, morals, and heritage in the younger generation.
The event held under the theme “Promoting Peace and Development through Culture,” saw enthusiastic participation from basic school learners across the Techiman South Municipality who showcased various aspects of Ghanaian culture. Learners wore traditional attire, cooked indigenous meals, performed drama, recited traditional poems, and demonstrated their skills in playing the Atumpan (talking drum), among other rich cultural expressions.
The Techiman Bouyemhene and Oyokohene of the Techiman Traditional Area, Daasebre Ameyaw Kwarteng Amaniampong II, commended the Techiman South Educational Directorate and the Ghana Education Service for organizing the Basic Schools Festival of Arts and Culture.
Speaking as Chairperson of the event, Daasebre Kwarteng Amaniampong II lauded the initiative, stating it plays a vital role in preserving Ghana’s cultural heritage and addressing the rising trend of social vices among the youth.
He urged learners to embrace the cultural values they demonstrated during the festival. According to him culture is an integral part of Ghanaian identity and must be preserved at all cost.
“We can all attest to the fact that our learners have performed exceptionally well today. All the performances were impressive, and for that, I would like to sincerely thank the facilitators for the effort and dedication they put into preparing our children for such outstanding presentations.
“I encourage the learners to take inspiration from what they have displayed today and adopt it as a way of life because this is who we are as Ghanaians.” He said.
Touching on the theme for the occasion, Daasebre Ameyaw Kwarteng Amaniampong II stated, “The theme for this program is Promoting Peace and Development through Culture. Indeed, if we uphold our cultural values, morals, and norms, we will create a peaceful and stable environment that is conducive to the development of our nation.”
He further called on Ghanaians to support local industries and cultural practices as a means of preserving heritage and strengthening national identity. He also noted that the rise in social vices within communities can be attributed to the neglect of the country’s cultural values.
“I urge all of us here to make a conscious effort to promote our culture wherever we find ourselves. Let us begin by patronizing locally made products, as this too is a way of preserving and promoting our cultural heritage.
“Today, we are witnessing a rise in social vices largely because we have neglected our own culture and have instead adopted foreign cultures that we do not fully understand.” He said.
Daasebre Ameyaw Kwarteng Amaniampong II continued, “Therefore, I would like to commend the Techiman South Municipal Education Directorate for initiating the Basic Schools Festival of Arts and Culture. This initiative will help us preserve our culture, instill values in our youth, and ultimately reduce social vices in our communities, because our cultural heritage strongly discourages the negative behaviors we are currently witnessing in the country.”
The Kentenhene and Dabehene of the Techiman Traditional Council, Oheneba Nana Antwi Boasiako II, who also serves as the 1st National Trustee of GNAT and Culture Coordinator at the Techiman South Educational Directorate, called on teachers, parents, and traditional leaders to take deliberate steps in preserving Ghana’s rich cultural heritage by passing it down to the younger generation.
He explained the critical role culture plays in national identity and unity. According to him, it is important for the older generation to teach children traditional skills and knowledge such as cooking indigenous meals, wearing cultural attire, performing traditional dances and drama, and reciting folk poems as it will help to preserve our cultural heritage.
“We are celebrating the Basic Schools Festival of Arts and Culture under the theme: Promoting Peace and Development through Culture. All the activities we have witnessed today are aimed at promoting peace and development in Ghana. In addition, we seek to instill our cultural values and heritage in the younger generation.
“That is why the learners have been encouraged to cook traditional meals, perform drama, and recite traditional poems.” He said.
John Owusu Mensah, as he is known in his private life, expressed concern over the gradual erosion of cultural practices in the face of modernization, particularly in areas such as language, dress, and traditional cuisine.
He further disclosed that initiatives like the Basic Schools Festival of Arts and Culture serve as vital platforms to revive and sustain cultural practices.
“If care is not taken, our culture, our way of life, may be lost, especially in areas such as our mode of dressing, language, and food, particularly in this era where fast food has become the norm.
“This entire Basic Schools Festival of Arts and Culture is therefore focused on preserving our culture by passing it on to our basic school learners, who are the future of our nation.” He stated
Oheneba Nana Antwi Boasiako II disclosed that with consistent community support and by making the festival an annual event, the country would succeed in safeguarding its cultural identity for future generations.
“As teachers, parents, and traditional leaders, we have a duty to preserve our culture by teaching our children how to cook our traditional meals, dance, dress, and uphold our cultural values and morals.
“I believe that with the support of parents and traditional leaders, and by making the celebration of the Basic Schools Festival of Arts and Culture an annual event, we will succeed in preserving our cultural heritage for generations to come.” He explained.
The Techiman South Circuit emerged as the overall winner of the competition and went home with a set of drums and other prizes.
Source: Ghanaweb.mobi
