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Akwasidae: The rich cultural pageantry of the Ashanti Kingdom

Published
3 months agoon

The rhythmic sounds of the fontomfrom drums echoed through the skies, announcing the arrival of the highly anticipated Akwasidae celebration. Held every six weeks, this cultural extravaganza is not just a festival; it is a regal display of the Ashanti Kingdom’s heritage, an embodiment of unity, and a moment to honour its proud lineage.
This year’s Akwasidae, held at the iconic Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, was a spectacle of grandeur. The sprawling courtyard was adorned with the colourful kente cloths of attendees, their intricate patterns shimmering in the sunlight. Chiefs and queen mothers arrived with their entourage with each chief’s regalia a dazzling reflection of power and tradition.



Appellations by court criers heralds the arrival of the Asantehene through formal announcements, ensuring the crowd remains attentive and also declarations, royal messages, blessings, and reminders about the cultural significance of the festival, reinforcing its importance to the Ashanti heritage.

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the custodian of Ashanti culture, would finally sit majestically on the Golden Stool. He is draped in a vibrant kente cloth and crowned with gold ornaments, symbolised the continuity of a kingdom that has stood tall for centuries.
As he received homage from subjects, chiefs, and dignitaries, the crowd erupted in cheers, a testament to the deep reverence for their monarch.



The celebration was a mix of solemnity and jubilation. The Akom priests led prayers and libations, invoking the spirits of ancestors and asking for guidance and blessings. The rituals were punctuated by the enthralling performances of traditional drummers, dancers, and singers who narrated the kingdom’s history through music and movement.
Visitors from across the world flocked to Kumasi to witness this extraordinary event. “The energy here is electric,” remarked a tourist from Germany. “It’s not just a festival; it’s a living history lesson.”
Akwasidae is more than just a cultural celebration; it is also an occasion for reconciliation and unity. Families, separated by distance or disputes, use this sacred day to mend bonds and strengthen ties. Communities gather to deliberate on development issues, ensuring progress while remaining anchored in their heritage.
The festival is also a boon for tourism and commerce, where local artisans displayed their craftsmanship, beads, carvings, pottery, and textiles—while food vendors offered traditional delicacies like fufu with light soup, apapransa and a special traditional khebab.
As the sun set over Manhyia, the festivities showed no signs of waning. The drummers’ beats grew livelier, the dances more animated, and the crowd more jubilant. It was an emotional reminder that Akwasidae is not just a date on a calendar but a celebration of identity, resilience, and the unbreakable spirit of the Ashanti people.
Indeed, Akwasidae remains a shining example of Ghana’s cultural wealth and a proud beacon of African heritage. Whether you’re an Ashanti royal, a curious traveller, or simply an admirer of tradition, this festival offers an unforgettable experience that lingers in the heart long after the last drumbeat fades.
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The Central North Regional Police Command, has arrested two suspects in connection with the murder of , Tahiru Zenabu, at Kokoase, a suburb of Twifo Praso in the Central Region.
Tahiru Zenabu, was found dead in her room on April 3, 2025 with a cloth tied around her neck and blood stains on her hands at Kokoase, a suburb of Twifo Praso in the Central Region.
The suspects, identified as Isaac Arhin and Richard Armah, were arrested on May 5, 2025 at Twifo Aboabo.
Preliminary investigations established that Richard Armah, a mobile phone Repairer and Spinner residing in Twifo Aboabo, was arrested when he used the deceased’s mobile phone to call a friend of the deceased who reported the matter to the police.
Upon interrogation, Richard Armah mentioned suspect Isaac Arhin as his accomplice and he was subsequently arrested. The mobile phone has since been retrieved and is in the custody of the Police.
The two accused persons were put before the court on May 7, 2025 and were remanded into police custody to re-appear on May 21, 2025.
News
Female Members of Parliament Undergo Affirmative Action Training in Ada

Published
6 hours agoon
May 9, 2025
A two-day training workshop was organised by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) to sensitise Ghanaian female Members of Parliament (MPs) on the Affirmative Action (AA) Law was held from May 6-7 2025.
The workshop held at the Aqua Safari Resort in Ada aimed at providing the MPs with lobbying skills, advocacy and the necessary tools for the act to be fully enforced.
Madam Kathleen Addy, Chairperson of the NCCE, opening the workshop, said the sensitisation was important for the female MPs to help materialise the benefits envisaged in the law.
Madam Addy said there were a lot of reforms to be made to help more women emerge as parliamentarians, citing Rwanda, where 64 per cent of its parliamentarians are females.
Madam Addy said the AA law must impress upon political parties to reserve a percentage of their parliamentary seats for women, an intervention she believes would make women part of policymaking.
She lamented that Ghana has 50 per cent of its population being women but only 14 per cent of women in Ghana’s parliament are women.
The MPs expressed satisfaction about the workshop, acknowledging that women have always been marginalised and less catered for.
The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Hon. Ablah Dzifa Gomashie, and MP for Ketu South and a queen mother in the Aflao Traditional Area, said that a female child could equally be raised by her parents to perform tasks of all kinds, rather than segregating duties to be performed with gender identification.
She said aside what biologically identifies us as men and women, and may be our strength levels, every other thing can be done by both genders, adding that countries that have women in leadership are doing better than Ghana.
The MP for Salaga South, Madam Zuwera Mohammed Ibrahimah, added her voice and said the Affirmative Action Law, which was passed and assented to last year, would not be one of the many laws that are not in use.
According to her, female MPs would get themselves acquainted with the law, engage various stakeholders, and then disseminate an action plan to the citizenry to empower and encourage many women to accept leadership positions in the country.

On Monday, May 7, 2025, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts and MP for Ketu South, Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie launched the Fleet Pool Management Service (FPMS), a transport service by the Ghana Tourism Development Company (GTDC) that aims to solve the transportation challenges in the tourism sector.
According to Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, the goal of the initiative is to ensure that movement between destinations in Ghana is as enjoyable as the attractions themselves.
She stated that tourism is not just about the sights. It is about the experience, and the experience starts the moment a tourist lands in Ghana. If transportation is poor, we risk losing visitors and damaging our reputation.





Abla Dzifa Gomashie stressed the need for better connectivity and called on African countries to work together to improve direct flight connections within the continent.
According to her, travelling across Africa is expensive and tiring. We therefore need partnerships with countries that have national carriers to make this easier, she stated.
The Fleet Pool Management Service (FPMS) is designed not just as a short-term strategy, but as a model for long-term transformation.
It will help support better driving standards, compliance with national regulations, and overall growth in the tourism ecosystem.
The minister urged other tourism-related businesses, such as hotels, restaurants, and cultural institutions, to also reflect Ghana’s identity in what they offer by playing Ghanaian music in their hotel lobbies, decorating the place with local art, and serving Ghanaian food in creative ways. She asked hoteliers to let tourists feel the culture at every turn.
Concluding her address, she urged stakeholders to embrace innovation and a spirit of service, which has Ghana’s development at the forefront.
She expressed confidence that, with collective effort, tourism could become a key pillar of the nation’s economic growth.
The Ag. The Chief Executive Officer of the GTDC said the FPMS will use the Private Public Partnership Approach to improve transportation in the tourism sector, with GTDC doing the legwork to get the customers.
To do this, he said the GTDC will ensure that there is a database on drivers to organise tour driving and track to give accurate information to tourists.
Though he acknowledged that collecting data in Ghana is cumbersome and challenging, he said GTDC will support by organising this using a different kind of orientation.
The initiative is a way to position Ghana by helping to overcome the challenges for us to achieve the Black Star Experience.
According to Prof. Kobby Mensah, FPMS is a forward-looking transport network that would ensure a professional system that has a dependable supply system in place.
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