Brong Ahafo Celebrates Festival Of Arts And Culture (REFAC 2014) In Sunyani

The Brong-Ahafo Region is located in South Ghana. Brong-Ahafo is bordered to the north by the Black Volta River and to the east by the Lake Volta, and to the south by the Ashanti region, Eastern and Western regions, and to the west by the Ivory Coast southeastern border. The capital of Brong-Ahafo is Sunyani.

Brong-Ahafo was created in 1958 from Bono state and named after the dominant Akans Brong and Ahafo.
Economy and tourism Brong Ahafo is renowned for its large cocoa production and agriculture/agri-business industries. Brong Ahafo contains many Akan cultural and wildlife attractions, but it is less known to tourists than the Ashanti or Central region.

Tourism destinations in the region are:

Buabeng-Fiema Monkey Santuary in Nkoranza North District, Kintampo and Fuller Water Falls, Tano Sacred Grove, Buoyam Caves and Bats Colony, Bono-Manso Slave Market, Kunsu Slave Transit Site and The recently discovered Waterfall at Nchiraa in the Wenchi Municipality.

The region marked its annual festival of arts and culture on Tuesday, 28th October, 2014 at the jubilee park in Sunyani which was attended by the Hon. Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, The Deputy Regional minister, Hon. Municipal Chief Executives/District Chief Executives, Chiefs, Artists, Artistes, The Media, and School
children.

The Regional Festival of Arts and Culture (REGIFEST 2014) was presented by the Centre for National Culture in collaboration with the Brong Ahafo Regional Coordinating Council.

Theme for this year's celebration was The Creative Arts and Tourism, A Platform for National Development.
Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Hon. Mrs. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare speaking at the occasion said, Culture is the dynamic force that encompasses the totality of the way of life of a people, community or nation and it reflects their ideals, beliefs and values of society, which include the recognition of Traditional Authorities and sages.

She said her ministry has a map up a strategy to use the Regional festival to identify talents and secondly to provide the platform for showcasing Regional Cultural and Tourist peculiarities. “The Regional NAFAC has been a source of great encouragement and I am very proud to be associated with it. We have so far celebrated Regional NAFACS in
Cape Coast, Sekondi-Takoradi, Koforidua, Accra, Akatsi and Hohoe in the Volta Region and Kumasi.”

She added that, The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts recognizes social and cultural unity in diversity and also acknowledges cultural values as a major instrument for accelerating development since unity is a vital ingredient for Nation building.

“In line with the requirement of our national constitution and the demands of our Cultural Policy. Culture is being mainstream in our National Development Agenda. A vibrant culture would provide the platform for a rapid socio economic development. The government will therefore give the Creative Arts a boost so that it can serve as a vehicle for creating wealth for national development.”

Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Hon. Justice Samuel Adjei who represent the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Hon. Eric opoku appealed to stakeholders in the creative and tourism industry including culture institutions, broadcasting agencies and organizations, private sector, actors and musicians, unions to foster collaboration to take
advantage of emerging market base creativity to generate high revenue and provide a future full of transformational and development.

He said this festival provides a unique opportunity to re-strategize and meet the development aspirations of the people.

He, therefore, called on Nananom to make all resources available to enable the region hold a successful National Festival coming November 2014.

Nana Kwasi Bosomprah, Goasoman-hene who chaired the ceremony called on all present to use their time very well as time is also part of our culture, and pledged that, Nananom will ensure that tourism will have its firm ground in the Brong Ahafo Region.