By George Ernest Asare
A grand festival organised at the Kumasi Jubilee Park last weekend by the Mfantse community in the Ashanti Region, to mark their migration into the region, brought much colour to the cultural diversity in the metropolis.
Female tekua headgear crafted in different colours and shapes, attractive clothing unique to the Central Region as well as different music and dance troupes lightened the festive grounds. And similarly did a variety of indigenous Mfantse dishes satisfied the palates of many of the guests who attended the festival.
The festival with the theme “using ethnicity to promote national peace and cohesion” was the second in a series organised by the Mfantse community to mark their stay in the region.
Among the dignitaries who graced the occasion were the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Opoku Manu, Member of Parliament (MP) for Mfanteman West, Mr Aquinas Tawiah Quansah, the Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Mr Samuel Sarpong and the Chief of Anomabo and Mpontuhen of Akropong Mawerehene, Nana Egyir Aggrey II
According to the organisers, the festival provides an opportunity for the Mfantse community to “meet and pay a fitting tribute to our forefathers through whom we all came to live in the Ashanti Region.
“It is also an occasion for us to express our heartfelt appreciation to the overlord of the Ashanti Kingdom, His Majesty, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and Asanteman for their kind hospitality towards all Mfantes living within the Ashanti Kingdom”, they noted.
Before the the climax of the festival, a clean up exercise was organised in support of environmental cleanliness in the metropolis. The Mfantse community also visited the Kumasi Children’s Home to interact with the inmates, and as part of the visit, they donated food items, clothing and cash to the inmates to put smiles to their faces.
On August 14, 2010, a soccer gala was also organised at the Asem School park where the youth displayed their skills in soccer
Addressing the Mfantse community who attended the festival and a cross section of the public, the Central Regional Minister, Mrs. Ama Benyiwa Doe, commended Fantes for living peacefully with their hosts and contributing significantly towards their development initiatives.
Mrs. Benyiwa Doe who was the special guest of honour noted that the resolve of migrated Fantes not to return home could deny their children the privilege of knowing their heritage as Fantes.
Mrs. Benyiwa Doe’s comments were in reaction to a statement made by the Chief of Mfantseman in Ashanti, Nana Arkorful Owese when he stated in his welcoming address that Fantes were living so comfortably in Kumasi that they have virtually made it their home.
The Central Regional Minister paid tribute to the forefathers who migrated to the Ashanti Region and further expressed appreciation to the Asantehene and the entire Asanteman for the hospitality shown to Fantes.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Opoku Manu, reminded the people of the uniqueness of the Ashanti region, which he said, is endowed with peace-loving people whose warm reception to all inhabitants was second to none.
He said it was their hospitality and their desire to live peacefully with their guests that contributed to the naming of major suburbs within the city after other ethnic groups .
“Communities such as Fante New Town, Moshie Zongo, Anloga, Aboabo among others, clearly attest to the hospitality of Asantes”, he said. .
Mr Opoku Manu also advised them to be law-abiding citizens and honour their commitments, including the paying of taxes and special rates imposed by the assembly as means of contributing to the development of the region and the country as a whole.
Nana Boakye Ansah Debrah, Asokore Mamponghene who represented the Asantehene commended Fantes for their development initiatives which he said, is impacting well at Mfantse New Town, considered as one of the beautiful suburbs in the Kumasi metropolis.
Nana Debrah encouraged other tribes in the region to emulate the developmental initiatives of Fantes .
The chief of Mfantseman Council in Ashanti, Nana Arkorful Owese, gave a brief history of the council and noted that they formed the group in early 1990 to gather all the Fantes in the region under one umbrella.
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