NE/R : CULTURAL IDENTITY AND EDUCATION MUST GO HAND IN HAND – NAYIRI ASSERTED

The King of Mamprugu His Royal Majesty, Nayiri, Naa Bohagu Abdulai Mahami Sheriga II has said that cultural identity of the Gbewaa fraternity and education must go hand in hand to ensure a holistic development of the three main kingdoms of the Naa Gbewaa family comprising of Mamprugu, Dagbon and Nanung respectively.

 

The theme for this year”s celebration was christened “Promoting Cultural Identity, Education, And Political Participation: The Role Of Indigenous Languages In Shaping Democratic Governance”

Speaking on the theme, the Nayiri whose speech was read on his behalf during the Third Edition of the Gbewaa Homecoming Festival held in Nalergu, capital of the North East Region called on the sister kingdoms to ensure that their younger generations understand the history of their kingdoms, appreciate the sacrifices made by their ancestors, and embrace the beauty of their culture adding it is only when they were rooted in their identity that they could confidently contribute their quita to the growth and progress of the entire Gbewaa fraternity.

In his welcome address the national president of the Mamprugu Youth Association (MAYA) indicated that this year’s festival marked the beginning of the rotation of the Gbewaa Homecoming Festival among the Great Kingdoms of Naa Gbewaa descendants. He stated that the proposal to rotate this festival was made by the Overlord of Dagbon, Ndang Yaa Naa Mahama Abukari II and was gladly endorsed by the Overlord of Mamprugu, Tidugma Nayiri, Naa Bohagu Abdulai Mahami Sheriga II.

Explaining the essence of this year’s assembly of the great Gbewaa fraternity he said it was meant to further tightened their bonds that has existed between the three brothers since time immemorial as such thanked God for keeping them together through the centuries.

The president mentioned among others the establishment of the Gbewaa Education Endowment Fund, GEED as one of the achievements with three members as Board of Trustees to manage the fund. He implored all sons and daughters of the fraternity to generously contribute financially to sustain this human resource development-oriented project for the benefit of the youth and generations yet to come.

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Again, a special Gbewaa Excellence Award Scheme which saw the awarding of 10 personalities in this year’s festival was also launched a year earlier to recognise the contributions and sacrifices of various personalities towards the growth and development of the fraternity.

To preserve the Mampruli language he said was to ensure its formal studies at the highest level of education hence, a Harmonized Mampruli Orthography Book launched during this year’s celebration with the first copy bought 10,000 cedis by the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

Given a brief significance of the festival he indicated that beyond its cultural significance, it served as a reminder of their shared heritage, unity, and responsibility to preserve and honour the legacies of their great ancestor, Naa Gbewaa.

Diali Chief who led the Yaa Naa delegation to the event called on his Gbewaa brethren to encourage the participation of their younger ones since they were the future of the fraternity.

The spokesperson for the delegation of the Bimbila Regent suggested that speeches of subsequent events should be read in their native languages before being translated in English for invited participants who might not understand their languages.

In his remarks the Chairman of the occassion, Naba Baba Salifu Alemyarum Atamale, Paramount Chief of the Bongo Traditional Area of the Upper East Region appealed to Nayiri, Yaa Naa and the Regent of Bimbilla to collaborate effectively to ensure lasting peace returned to Bawku adding the peace of Bawku meant the peace of Mamprugu, Dagbon, Nanung and Ghana as a whole.

Naba Alemyarum lauded the establishment of the Gbewaa Education Endowment Fund describing it as timely. He pledged to get all the children of Nayiri in the Upper East Region informed so as to contribute their quota to the growth and sustainability of the fund for the benefit of their young ones and generations yet unborn. He appealed that their various paramountcies be considered when it comes to the disbursements of the Gbewaa Education and Endowment Fund.

Among the personalities who received the Gbewaa Excellence Award included H.E Dr. Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice President of the Republic of Ghana and Flagbearer of NPP and Lawyer Hajia Alima Mahama, Ghana’s Ambassador to the USA.

The Regent of Mamprugu Traditional Area in Togo and his entourage graced the colourful event which was celebrated amidst traditional drumming dancing.

Source – gbcuraonline.com