Ashaiman hosts ‘Kaakamotobi’ festival
A fancy dress and masquerade festival has been held at the Roman Park at Ashaiman in the Greater Accra Region.
Patrons were thrilled with riveting performances by participating groups
Advertisement
The festival, held on Wednesday, December 28, 2022 was an initiative of the Ghana Tourism Development Company (GTDC) in collaboration with the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly and the Tema Masquerade Association.
It was aimed at promoting the Masquerade culture in Tema and its environs as part of the Ghana Centre of the World Project.
The ‘Kaakamotobi’ or "Sakramodu" festival as it is locally called, brought together 17 masquerade groups from Tema and Ashaiman who showcased their beautiful and colourful costumes as they thrilled patrons with dancing skills amidst brass band music.
The masqueraders had earlier in the day embarked on a procession from Tema Community One to Ashaiman to create awareness and also entertain the public with exciting dance moves.
Rationale
In an interview with Graphic Online on the sidelines of the festival, a Project Manager at the GTDC, Lauretta Kwadey said the festival forms part of a community engagement initiative to project the Ghana Centre of the World Project of which the city of Tema plays a key part.
She explained that Ghana being a country closest to the Greenwich Meridian, the imaginary line that divides the world into two parts, the ‘Ghana Centre of the World Project’ concept seeks to position, Tema in particular and Ghana in general as a desired tourist destination on the continent by translating that historical fact into tangible monumental structures to boost tourism.
Projects
Ms Kwadey said since 2017, the GTDC has engaged the Tema Country Golf Club where they host an annual ‘Ghana Centre of the World’ invitational golf tournament to support the initiative.
She said as part of the plans, the GTDC intends to develop the golf course, which host a part of the imaginary Greenwich meridian line, into a modern golf resort, with hotels and restaurant facilities to attract tourists.
Ms Kwadey further indicated that the Community One Greenwich Congregation of the Presbyterian Church, where the Greenwich meridian line is directly positioned will also be developed into a religious tourism enclave.
The President of the Tema Masquerade Association, Justice Gameli said the festival which had come to stay, is intended to provide a unique platform for the youth to unearth and realise their potential as well as find ways to harness them for their personal development.
He said they intend to use the festival as an avenue to help curb social vices such as teenage pregnancy, substance abuse among the youth.
Mr Gameli appealed to corporate bodies to support the Association in the area of costume production and other activities to help preserve the culture of masquerading.
Writer's email: [email protected]