Accra: The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) is partnering with Bobigny, a France-based NGO, to promote cultural diversity, education, and economic development for the mutual benefit of France and Ghana. Mr. Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, KMA Chief Executive, announced this collaboration during a visit to the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, where he led a delegation from Bobigny to participate in the fifth Akwasidae of the year.
According to Ghana News Agency, Akwasidae is a sacred, six-week festival celebrated by the Asante people. The occasion features a royal durbar where the Asantehene receives homage from sub-chiefs and subjects, honors past ancestors, and offers spiritual nourishment to the Golden Stool. The French delegation's visit was part of an immersion program organized by the Bomoyi Association, supported by the UNESCO Network, aimed at fostering stronger ties with the Ashanti Region.
Mr. Boadi emphasized Kumasi's readiness to collaborate with Bobigny, highlighting that such engagements could unlock numerous opportunities for both sides. He described Kumasi as a "cultural citadel" and a city where Ghana's potential is unearthed.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Deputy Mayor Nana Shodu expressed that the visit was an immersion into Asante culture. She noted the importance of understanding one another as a step toward lasting friendship. Nana Shodu described the audience with Asantehene as a remarkable privilege and hoped it would lay the foundation for formal cooperation between Bobigny and Kumasi.