A maiden tribal festival to exhibit diverse cultures of northern Ghana tribes in the Zongo communities has been held in Sunyani to sensitise and educate young men and women on customs and morals behaviour.

Held at the Jubilee Park from Tuesday to Thursday, the colourful event was also to strengthen peaceful co-existence and cohesion and to protect the cultural heritage of Ghanaians.

It was organized by Sunyani-based Angel FM, a local radio station and supported by the Centre for National Culture (CNC) in Sunyani to impart the Ghanaian cultural values unto the younger generation.

Twenty tribal Chiefs and their subjects from Zongo communities in Accra, Bupe, Wenchi, Goaso, Techiman, Banda-Ahenkro, Bechem, Sampa, and Duayaw Nkwanta joined those in Sunyani and its environs to celebrate the festival in one accord.

The tribes included Songhai, Wala, Dagaaba, Frafra, Gonja, Sisaala, Banda Sirhen, Hausa, Kusaase, Moshie, Moshi Nasuruba, Fulani, Daffi, Dagomba, Wangara, Baasare and Mamprusi.

They exhibited and displayed the dress code of each tribe, marriage customs, dance, favourite meal and preparation, main occupation and their origination.

A general cleaning exercise was held on Wednesday to improve environmental sanitation as part of the event.

Mr. Seidu Iddrisu Yeboah, the acting Regional Director, CNC, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, emphasised the need to intensify socio-cultural activities to strengthen the practices of local culture, lineage, heredity, and moral values to instill discipline in young boys and girls to desist from social vices.

He, therefore, called on the Regional Houses of Chiefs, the media, family heads, Assembly Members, parents, and all stakeholders to collaborate and roll out cultural and traditional events to educate the youth on moral values, customs, and traditions of the Ghanaian society.

Alhaji Halid Isahak Maiga, the Bono Regional Chief for the Songhai tribe in another interview told the GNA that Western culture was snatching the Ghanaian youth into blind slavery, hence, events of such nature were vital for the preservation of local cultural values.

Haji Osmanu Musah, the acting chairman of the Council of Zongo Chiefs added such festivals would subdue political and tribal differences and promote absolute peace in Ghana.

Source: Ghana News Agency