Don’t relegate our culture to the background - Nana Kobina Nketsia
The Paramount Chief of Essikado Traditional Area, Nana Kobina Nketsia V, has blamed the current state of general indiscipline, societal breakdown and proliferation of arms on inculturation perpetrated through the dominance of foreign media among the present generation.
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That, he said, had led to the relegation of the rich Ghanaian and African culture and tradition while foreign cultures portrayed in soap operas and other television programmes, some of which depicted the use of weapons, had taken centre stage.
Nana Nketsia made the observation during a courtesy call on him by the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Catherine Ablema Afeku, as part of her tour of the Western Region.
He said it was about time the country returned to its old ways of doing things by embracing its culture as one of the strongest tools in nation building.
Planning and policy
The tour was to allow the minister and her outfit to familiarise themselves of the state of the industry and policies required to improve and promote tourism, arts and culture in the country.
As part of the tour, the ministry met with all stakeholders, from traditional rulers and community leaders, especially in areas hosting historic sites with the support of metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs).
The paramount chief said the country had been blessed with unique cultures, traditionally welcoming people that could be used for integration, saying “it is about time the sector ministry took charge of various festivals, for instance and use them as points of integration.”
“If the people of Anlo are celebrating their rich Hogbetsotso Festival, and the chiefs from various parts of the country are invited to join to celebrate with them, and we Western Region invites chiefs from other paramountcies to join, we will be better and stronger than this,” he said.
The chief expressed regret that the country’s rich culture and gamut of historic sites, forts and castles were not raking in the needed benefits by telling the present generation about their past.
Huge potential
Nana Nketsia, who is also an author and historian, commended the minister for the initiative to tour various parts of the country and reminded her of the huge tourism potential of the region waiting to be harnessed.
Tourism minister
For her part, Mrs Afeku said traditional rulers would play a very critical role in the ministry’s quest to lead the industry within the sub-region.
She said the tour would provide the ministry with first-hand information about the current challenges of the industry, as well as tourist sites to enable the ministry to formulate appropriate policy strategies for its development.
Private sector
According to Mrs Afeku, investments in tourism infrastructure were huge and required strong collaboration between the ministry and the private sector to bring the industry to the level that could capture the interest of the world.
“Aside from the foreign tourist, we have to ensure that facilities across the country are patronised domestically,” she said.
Unique Ghanaian communities
Mrs Afeku said the ministry would roll out two projects – “See Ghana Effort” which would be followed by “Show Ghana” to attract potential investors who would partner the ministry to develop tourism infrastructure and sites.
Infrastructure
“If we have very good air and road transport systems to link the various tourist sites across the country, moderate hotels, service marketing, clean shores, pleasure boats, therapy centres backed by the Ghanaian hospitality and food, I can tell you that we will be making more progress, creating jobs and positioning the sector on the maps globally,” the minister stated.
Mrs Afeku and her entourage also toured existing and potential tourist sites in the region, including a fort and island in Axim, the Stilt Village of Nzulezu, Nyamekrom Rock Castle and Fort Apollonia, among others.