National Commission On Culture Celebrates Second Edition Of LAYYAH Festival

The National Commission on Culture in collaboration with Council of Ga-Adangme Muslim Chiefs, Queen- mothers, Imams and the nine regional intercity Muslim chiefs has opened the second edition of LAYYAH

The festival which brought Muslims from all over the ten regions and key Zongo Chiefs together to display various cultural heritage was held at the Efua Sutherland Children's park in Accra.

In his opening address,monitored by Mustapha NII Okai Inusah (Ghanacreativearts.com) the deputy minister for Tourism and Creative Arts Dr Ziblim Bari Iddi admonished all Muslims across the country to embrace unity for development.

The deputy minister further urged the Chiefs and all stakeholders in the Islamic Communities to promote our rich culture through their deeds to uphold the accepted societal norms and values.

He explained that the Layyah Festival was not in competition with the Zongofest but rather, promoting peace and unity together.

He said, "The Layyah Festival is not competing with Zongofest, therefore, the negative information out there, that is meant to make the National Commission on Culture and the Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture appear unpalatable is unfortunate.”

The theme of the festival was manifested through all the events of the festival, thus exhibition of arts and crafts, traditional performances, food-fair, and artistes’ performances.

The Layyah Festival seeks to promote peaceful co-existence, economic empowerment, and national development through culture.

It also seeks to promote talents and unite Ghanaians through the act of sharing and sacrifice.

Mrs Gifty Mahama Biyira, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Inner-City and Zongo Development, who represented the sector Minister, reaffirmed the Ministry’s support to promote the interest of the Inner- City communities.

She said reckoning the arduous task ahead, the Ministry needed the full support of Ghanaians to achieve its objective.

Mr Sultan Nii Nortey Caesar, the President of the Ga-Dangme Muslim Council and the representative of the Council of the Nine Regional Inner-City Muslim Chiefs, also pledged their full support and frequent engagement in ensuring the success and vision of the Government.

He called on the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and the Ministry of Inner-City and Zongo Development to support the Layyah Festival financially for it to become an umbrella that would advance the interest of the indigenous Muslims in Ghana.