The Arts Centre, Accra in collaboration with the Kpone-Katamanso Municipal Assembly has held the 2022 edition of the Regional Festival of Arts and Culture (REFAC) at Kpone near Tema.
The event which was organised under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture over the weekend was on the theme“Promoting national development through culture.”
The focus of the event was geared towards culture promotion, preservation, and culture transmission to the next generation as well as cultural tourism.
Addressing the gathering at the event on behalf of the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr Henry Quartey, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Ashaiman, Mr Albert Okyere expressed excitement at the array of cultural performances from all Metropolitan, Municipal, District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the Greater Accra Region.
Mr Okyere noted that the festival would afford the youth in the Creative Arts industry the opportunity to unearth and nurture their talents, while congratulating the organisers for creating such a unique platform for our culture and creative sector.
He concluded that “REFAC, is an occasion for us to reflect on how aspects of our culture including music, dance, clothing, crafts and other cultural expressions can be exploited to impact the lives people in the Greater Accra Region and by extension Ghana’s economy through tourism promotion.”
The MCE of the Kpone- Katamanso Municipal Assembly, Mr Samuel Okoe Amanquah, in his remarks asserted that the REFAC preceded the National Festival of Arts and Culture slated for December 9-16.
He emphasized that the REFAC platform was indeed a big stage that promoted cultural tourism.
“The festival offers us the opportunity to bridge the gap between diverse cultures, history and tradition as a prerequisite for peace, stability and development, which can bring development and strengthen our chieftaincy system in the Greater Accra Region”, Mr Amanquah added.
The Director for Planning Monitoring and Evaluation of the National Commission on Culture, Mr. Richardson Commey Fio, who was the Chairman for the occasion said the “Regional Festival, is geared towards the selection of the best cultural troupe to represent the Greater Accra Region during the National Festival of Arts and Culture come December, 9 -16 at Cape- Coast.
He added that the REFAC could serve as a unique platform to imbibe the spirit of patriotism in the youth, since most of them lacked the cherished moral values.
Mr Fio, however, pleaded with MMDAs to support the emerging groups to the National Festival of Arts and Culture in December to make it successful and memorable.
At the event, Naa Ayele from the Ga North Municipal Assembly emerged as winner of the cultural beauty queen pageant with Naa Akweley and Naa Atswei from the Weija Municipal and La DadeKotopon Municipal Assembly coming second and third respectively.
In the dance competition, dance groups from the Ledzokuku Municipal Assembly (LeKMA), Ga West Municipal Assembly and Kpone Municipal Assembly emerged winners, first and second runner up respectively.
BY TIMES REPORTER
