Koforidua To Host National Traditional Priests Congress

The city of sweet scented flowers, Koforidua is to be the host of a regional congress codenamed the Koforidua AKOMFERENCE; A special gathering of traditional priests, is the first of a number of regional congresses earmarked for the year to prepare for the 2nd national Akomference in Kumasi in August, 2015. The special congress which takes place on Monday 26th January, 2015 will draw participants who are mostly practitioners, managers, devotees and service providers in the traditional priesthood and religious practice in Ghana. The theme is,”Cultural Awareness, Rights, Unity and National Development.

The name Akomference was given birth in a resolution during the first National Traditional Priests Conference held in Ghana in July, 2014 at the plush Golden Tulip Hotel in Kumasi which was attended by important cultural personalities and religious leaders.image

The program is a special collaboration between a number of Ghana cultural organisations among which is the interim national Akomfo Collective known as the Ghana National Association of Traditional Priests, the Centre for Human Development and Social Change, Ghana and a number of United States cultural non-profits including the International Center for African Culture and Arts,

According to the spokespersons in Ghana , Nana Abass of Black and White Shrine,Medoma-Kumasi, Nana Kwame Subun of Kudi Baawasaba shrine at Kenyase-Abirem, Nana Obuotabiri of Obuotabiri shrine at Koforidua, the national executives of the Ghana National Association of Traditional Priests, all is set for the great congress. They said the association is pursuing a goal and a resolution which is aimed at creating awareness of the need for national voice for the traditional priesthood. They said, traditional faith and folk religion has been in existence and practiced for millions of years; contemporary times, imported religious practices and technology is changing the way the priesthood functions today. The need for coming together to learn new practices, techniques in addressing challenging health issues, share ideas and experience as well as educate the world are the motivation for the congress.image

On his part Mr. Begyedom Katakyi, the International PR Director for the Ghana National Association of Traditional Priests and an executive of the International Center for African Culture and Arts who is based in the United States, said the congress affirms the resolve of the Ghanaian traditional priests to come together for mutual benefits. He explained that traditional spirituality and alternative healing as well as medicine are practiced all over the world under various names. In Japan, he said the national religion, Shintoism has almost similar elements and operational formular as the African Traditional religion. He said, the Japanese have harnessed the good values in their national religion to advance in many facets in development. He continued that African Traditional religion and spiritualism practitioners are not wrong as many people have been made to believe. He said, the government needs to harness the traditional knowledge potentials of healing practices in solving medical challenges which the orthodox medicine has no clue to make sure it benefits larger population. He also believe that practitioners also need to know cultural rights as well as the rights of clients and patients to avoid conflicts. He believe that at the end of the congress, participants would benefits from many lectures and demonstrations lined up for the day.

Here is the link to the Kumase- Conversation:
http://akomference2014.snack.ws/