Kamenaman Yam Festival and Akwasiadae Kese Celebrated in Colourful Grand Style

The rich culture and heritage of the Kamenaman Traditional Area came alive over the weekend as chiefs and people celebrated the annual *Yam Festival and Akwasiadae Kese* in a spectacular display of tradition, unity and thanksgiving.

The festival, which brought together chiefs, queen mothers, traditional priests, youth groups, and citizens home and abroad, is celebrated annually to mark the harvest of new yam and to give thanks to the Almighty and the ancestors for protection, bumper harvest and development.

This year's celebration was graced by the *Deputy Chief of Staff at the Presidency, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo as the Special Guest of Honour, on behalf Hon.Julius Debrah and His Excellency the President, John Dramani Mahama.

The Deputy Chief of Staff was accompanied by government officials, party executives, and other dignitaries.

In his address, Hon. Nana Oye Bampoe Addo conveyed the President's warm greetings to Nananom and the people of Kamenaman and reiterated government's commitment to the *Resetting Ghana Agenda*. He emphasized that government remains committed to preserving Ghana's rich chieftaincy and cultural heritage as a vehicle for national unity, tourism and development.

"Our festivals like the Yam Festival and Akwasiadae are not just about dancing and drumming. They are about our identity as Ghanaians, our gratitude to God for how far he has brought us, and our collective resolve to develop our communities. The Presidency recognizes the key role of Nananom in national development," She stated.

She assured Nananom that government will continue to support traditional areas with development projects in the areas of roads, education, health and agriculture.

The Paramount Chief of Kamenaman Traditional Area Nana Osae Nyampong vi, in his welcome address, expressed profound appreciation to the Presidency and the Deputy Chief of Staff for honouring their invitation. He used the occasion to appeal for reparations from VRA and developmental support for the area, particularly the improvement of farm roads, youth employment and educational infrastructure.

The celebration which started on Monday 24th August and ended yesterday 30th August 2026 was streamed live on all FOKA TV platforms with top notch media coverage.

The event was marked by traditional drumming and dancing, pouring of libation, display of the new yam, and a grand durbar of chiefs clad in rich Kente and adorned with traditional regalia. The celebration of Akwasiadae Kese also saw the performance of sacred rites to honour the ancestors and to pray for peace in Ghana as we approach the December elections and beyond.

Present at the festival were Divisional Chiefs, Assembly Members, clergy, members of the diaspora, and a large number of citizens who described this year's celebration as one of the best in recent years.

The Kamenaman Yam Festival and Akwasiadae Kese ended with a call for unity among all citizens, both home and abroad, to join hands to build Kamenaman and Ghana at large.