A prominent traditional leader has bemoaned the lack of interest in the cultural and traditional festivals of the country by the youth stressing that the attitude does not promote culture as an important tool for development.
He said the youth of today would rather choose to go to the stadium on Sundays to watch football matches or betting centres to watch European Leagues or attend political party rallies than to attend cultural or traditional events like the ‘Akwasidae’ at the Manhyia Palace.
Baffour Osei Brentuo Hyiaman V, Otumfuo’s Mmawerehene, who made these remarks at the Maiden Ashanti Festival and Cultural Exhibition, organized by the Legacy Foundation, a non-profit organization at the Event-Dicta centre near Patase in Kumasi last week Friday, observed that the youth of this time were more interested in football matches and political rallies than cultural events.
He said there are a number of untapped resources and potentials especially in Ashanti region in the cultural and non-traditional export products and admonished the youth in the region to channel their energy and brain towards unearthing these resources.
Otumfuo’s Mmawerehene explained that the people who are the real industry builders and make impact on their societies rather do not talk too much and advised the youth to slow down on talking too much especially about politics.
Baffour Osei Hyiaman also admonished the media to take away every day discussions from politics and as agenda setters and advocate for issues that affect the economic and social well being of the people.
Mr. Stephen Acheampong, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Ghana Chamber of Commerce who was the Guest Speaker, explained that the level of socio-economic development of a society depended on the level of its cultural development and that developed societies were those that modernized and globalized their culture.
He said societies that promote their culture through digitalization, formal education, industrialization, agriculture, branding, quality, standardization, formalization, best practices and good corporate governance always develop better and faster.
Mr. Acheampong who also doubles a Director at the Juaben Rural Bank, lamented that cultural values such as honesty, hard work, diligence and respect, which checked social behaviour to make people conform have now given way to endemic bribery, corruption, laziness, betting (gaming), galamsey and littering.
The Co-ordinator for the Ashanti Festival and Cultural Exhibition, Nana Kwame Ayirebi Mentu in a welcome address explained that Ghanaians took their culture for granted because they did not know its developmental potentials emphasizing that the cultural industry sector elsewhere currently contributes significantly to GDP by promoting exports, tourism and employment.
He said the festival is expected to increase the awareness and appreciation of Ashanti culture and natural resources among the youth, identify opportunities for economic benefit and create jobs through the harnessing of natural resources in the region, among others.
The seven-day First Ashanti Festival and Cultural Exhibition spearheaded by Legacy Foundation will take place from the 24th to 30th of December, 2023 with a series of activities at the Heroes Park near the Baba Yara Stadium.
From Thomas Agbenyegah Adzey, Kumasi
