The First Lady of the Republic, Rebecca Naa Okaikor Akufo-Addo, has presented items to chiefs and traditional councils in Teshie, Nungua and Osu as they prepare to celebrate this year’s Hɔmɔwɔ festival.
A Ga in her own right, with family homes in Osu and Ningo, the First Lady presented contributions of corn, palm nuts, palm oil, fish, beer, minerals, water, Castle Bridge schnapps and other gifts to the three traditional councils.
The Hɔmɔwɔ festival is celebrated annually by the Ga people to remind themselves of their long battle with famine and how rain finally eased their burden.
Peaceful front
Mrs Akufo-Addo paid courtesy calls on all five clans under the Teshie Traditional Council – Klemusu, Krobo, Agbawe, Lenshie and Gbugbla – as well as the chiefs and elders of the Osu and Nungua Traditional Councils.
Mrs Akufo-Addo was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and MP for Anyaa Sowutuom, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the MP for Ledzokuku and Deputy Minister of Health, Bernard Okoe Boye, and the administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund and former MP for Tema West, Irene Naa Torshie Addo. Also in the First Lady’s entourage were the municipal chief executives for Ablekuma Central (Mariama Karley Amui), Korle Klottey (Nii Adjei Tawiah) and Krowor (Joshua Nii Bortey).
She extolled the people of Teshie, Osu and Nungua for keeping the peace and coming together peacefully to celebrate the festival. She particularly urged the people of Osu to forge towards unifying their traditional leadership, noting that a united front elicits the economic investment that expedites development in any community.
The First Lady urged the people to take advantage of the many social intervention policies being implemented by the government of her husband, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Among such opportunities is the Free SHS policy, which, Mrs Akufo-Addo said, will help break the vicious cycle of semi-literacy and poverty in their communities.
Health and help for the needy
Mrs Akufo-Addo, who is also the executive director of the Rebecca Foundation, pledged the foundation’s determination to complement government’s efforts to enhance the lives of Ghanaian citizens by intensifying the implementation of the foundation’s initiatives.
These include Terema (supporting women to improve their economic status), Because I Want to Be (keeping girls in school) and Learning to Read (improving child literacy). The foundation also helps build health facilities and supply hospital equipment to needy institutions.
For his part, Dr Okoe Boye, speaking on behalf of the chiefs and traditional elders of Teshie, Nungua and Osu, thanked the First Lady for her Hɔmɔwɔ donations as well as the many philanthropic activities the Rebecca Foundation is undertaking. He said they have had a great impact on the lives of women and children in the coastal communities of Accra.
On the back of the COVID-19 outbreak, Mrs Akufo-Addo urged the elders and people of Teshie, Nungua and Osu Traditional Areas to adhere to all safety measures in celebrating this year’s Homowo, limiting the ritual of sprinkling kpekple (kpokpoi) to their individual homes.
Asaase news correspondents
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