Nzemas climax Kundum festival with funfare

The chiefs and people of Lower and Upper Axim in the Nzema East Municipality of the Western Region have climaxed their annual Kundum festival amidst funfare.

The festival which is celebrated by the Ahantas and Nzema people of the Western Region, is an occasion to render Thanksgiving to God for the abundance of food at the end of the harvest period.

The week-long festival saw activities such as clean up exercise, regatta race, marathon, Miss Kundum pageant, cooking competition, street carnival jam, beach soccer and grand durbar and a thanksgiving service.

This year's celebration was on the theme, "Promoting Security in our Communities; the role of society and the Traditional Authorities".

On Monday, September 4, 2018, the Paramount Chief of Lower Axim Traditional Council, Awulea Attibrukusu III led some sub-chiefs together with his subjects and cleaned the principal streets to tidy up the environment to save lives.

On Tuesday, Inter-District Beach Soccer Kundum Cup was organized and was sponsored by Tullow Ghana.

The festival brought together people from far and near including the President of Ghana, President Akufo-Addo and government functionaries to grace the occasion at a grand durbar which attracted over 1000 people.

Addressing the durbar on Sunday, September 9, 2018, the Paramount Chief of Lower Axim, Awulea Attibrukusu III thanked God for granting them the opportunity to climax the festival.

"Indeed, today marks a special day for all of us gathered here to witness another climax of the Kundum celebration of the Chiefs and people of Axim; and wish to thank the Almighty God for granting us this opportunity", he excited.

On behalf of the people, he expressed profound gratitude to President Akufo-Addo and his entourage for honoring their invitation to climax the 2018 Kundum festival with them.

He used the occasion to laud President Akufo-Addo for appointing two people from the area to be part of his government thus, Hon. Catherine Afeku as the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts and Mrs. Eva Esselba Mends as Director of Budget at Ministry of Finance. "Indeed we are proud of our daughters' appointment to these high offices".

He explained that the theme for the celebration seeks to focus on the security concerns in our society as well as addressing the basic needs of our security agencies.

He added that security is increasingly paramount to every society since their involvement seeks to safeguard lives and properties of their society.

He, therefore, humbly appealed to the government as a matter of urgency to support the community to rehabilitate abandoned Axim Police bungalow, which has not been attended to for the past 46 years.

Awulea used the occasion to thank President Akufo-Addo for the introduction and implementation of the Free SHS flagship program to help parents and guidance across the country especially those in the rural communities.

"We will like to thank you for introduction of Free SHS system to help parents and guidance across the country especially those in rural areas, Mr. President you always keep promise and when you pledge, you pledge, you fulfill. You said you were going to bring us Free SHS, and you have fulfilled that. We thank you", he said.

He continued, "Mr. President, let me on behalf of the people of Axim use this occasion to extend our heartfelt appreciation to you for the ongoing projects in Axim, the Sports complex and the preparation towards the construction of the Sea Defence Wall".

He thanked President Akufo-Addo for the construction of the Sea Defence and said if completed would curtailed the inconveniences that his subjects have been encountering for the close to two decades due to the sea erosion.

Awulea urged President Akufo-Addo to continue the Axim township roads started by the former President John Agyekum Kufour and former President John Mahama to befit the status the area as Municipal Assembly.

He said, "The inflow of premix in Axim has not been adequately enough and will appeal to the Minister of Fisheries to help us because the continuing shortage of premix in Axim has serious adverse impart in the fishing industry".

He, therefore, acknowledged the MP for the area who is also the Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Catherine Afeku for her efforts to bring an end to open defecation in the Municipality by constructing toilet facilities in some of the communities.

"Let me also acknowledge my MP and Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture Hon. Catherine Afeku for her efforts to bring to an end to open defecation in the Municipality by constructing toilet facilities in some of the communities", he commended.

The President, Nana Akufo-Addo Who was the special guest of honour pledged government commitment to construct sea defence wall for people to save them from sea erosion.

He hinted that the Gwira roads of the Municipality would be factored into the 2019 budget for the first time in the history of the country's politics.

The move forms part of measures to assist predominantly cocoa farmers to cart their cocoa pods to the produce buying center.

Talking about the Axim township roads, President Akufo-Addo revealed that Mr. Amoako-Atta, the Minister for Roads would, in fortnight, cut the sod for the construction of the roads in the area.

On Free SHS, he revealed that last academic year over 1,200 students in the Nzema East Municipality had opportunity to enjoy the program and stated this year the number would be increasing.

"Last two weeks, four communities in this Municipality were connected to the national grid and these are the communities, Gwira Eshiem, Gwira Abrodiem, Gwira Tumentu and Gwira Wiawso. Government is constructing 40,000 Security Housing Project across the country and Axim will be beneficiary", he said.

He also declared government's intention to establish cocoa depot in Gwira Aiyinasi in the Municipality.

He used the occasion and revealed to the gathering that the MP for the area, Hon Catherine Afeku was hardworking MP and said through her support today the NPP government is constructing a Multi-Purpose Sports Complex at Axim, the construction of a Driver and Licensing Authority (DVLA) office near Axim among others.

The President appealed to the good people of Evalue-Adjomoro Gwira Constituency to retain Hon. Catherine Afeku as their MP in 2020 for massive developments.

On her part, The Member of Parliament for the area who is the Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Catherine Afeku expressed her profound appreciation to President Akufo-Addo for honouring their invitation to celebrate the Kundum festival with them as a first sitting President.

She also thanked the chiefs and people for organising such a memorable celebration.

She urged the gathering especially her constituents to live in peace and unity.

She reaffirmed governmen'st commitment to construct the Axim township roads for the people.

On the issue of the cocoa depot, she said it will give a facelift to the Constituency and also motivate the government to construct some cocoa roads in the area.

She told the gathering to ignore the propaganda her political opponents were peddling in the area and urged them to remain resolute and support President Akufo-Addo led administration to deliver.

Hon. Catherine Afeku donated 10,000 Ghana Cedis plus assorted drinks to the Lower and Upper Axim Traditional Councils.

The festival was finally climaxed by a Beach Jam which was organized by Livewire Events and under the auspices of the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture to entertain the people and over 5,000 people were at the event.

The most artistes who rocked the stage were, D-Black, Kuami Eugene, Kidi, Sefa, Kwesi Arthur, Osayo, Wisa Gried, Dahlim, Kobla Junior and Nero X and some local artists of the area.

Djs for the night were, DJ Breezy X and DJ Mingle.
The immediate past Petroleum Minister and the NDC MP for Ellembelle Constituency, Mr. Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah also graced the occasion and shook hands with President Akufo-Addo when he took to the podium.

President Akufo-Addo was accompanied by the Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr. Francis Asenso-Boakye, the Minister for Work and Housing, Mr. Samuel Atta-Kyea, Minister for Youth and Youth, Mr. Isaac Assiemah, Western Regional Minister, Dr. Kwaku Afreyie, the Deputy Western Regional Minister, Mrs. Eugunia Kusi, the Member for Tarkwa-Nsuaem Constituency, Hon. George Mireku-Duker, Hon. Catherine Afeku, the NPP Western Regional Executives led by its Chairman, Mr. Francis Ndede Siah, the MCE for the area, Hon. Frank Okpenyen, the media among others.

Source: Daniel Kaku

People dancing Kundum festival