26-05-15
This year’s
Nangod-Naab Goug festival of the chiefs and people of Nangodi Traditional Area
in the Upper East Region has been celebrated in pump and pageantry.
The colourful
event brought together sons and daughters of Nabrug including revered paramount
and divisional chiefs, departmental heads as well as visitors from other
communities in the region.
Correspondent Isaac Asare was there for Radio Ghana
and has filed this report
Report
Unlike other
festivals celebrated annually, Nangod-Naab Goug is a biennial festival
celebrated in April to usher in the raining season, seek the protection and
guidance of the ancestors and also renew the bond of friendship and brotherliness
among the people of Nabdam and its neighbouring communities.
The festival according
to the customs and traditions allows the chain of survival among animals in the
forest; so that animal species are not endangered.
However, the maiden edition
of the Nangod-Naab Goug festival which served as a home coming summit brought
together citizens from Nabrug as well as visitors and development partners.
The
ultimate goal was to reflect on the development needs the Nabdam community and
to initiate development projects and to contribute financially towards these
projects.
Addressing the gathering on the theme: “Our Heritage and environment,
the Basis for Nabdam Development”, the Paramount Chief of the area, Naab Kosom
Asaga Yelzoya, touched on the development aspirations of the people.
He said
the development of the Nabdam community hinges on their output and how well
they contribute to the reduction of poverty in the area.
Naab Asaga Yelzoya,
therefore advised the people against the high intake of alcohol, burning of the
vegetation as well as wastage of resources especially during funerals.
This,
he, lamented contribute to their privation.
He moreover advised the youth to
have respect for authority and refrain from violence.
Naab Asaga Yelzoya, also
used the opportunity to thank the government for the numerous developmental
projects in the area and further called for support in the area of road
construction, particularly the Bolga-Bawku, Nangodi -Yakote-Pelungu and
Asonge-Pelungu-Sakote roads.
The upgrade
of the Nangodi health centre and the provision of technical and infrastructural
support for farmers and the Kongo Senior High school were key on his priority list
and called on authorities concerned to come to their aid.
There were solidarity
messages from various chiefs present at the occasion. On behalf of the Regional Minister, the Nabdam
DCE, Vivian Anarfo challenged the people to develop the habit of tree growing
in order to protect the environment.
Madam Anarfo emphasized the urgent need
for the chiefs to mobilize their communities to take active part in the
upcoming National Sanitation Day exercise schedule to take place in the region
next month.
Other speakers including the MP for Nabdam, Boniface Gambila,
stressed on the need for people to uphold their cultural heritage and no
succumb to the negative global influences.
This year’s Nangod-Naab Goug festival
was marked with series of activities including a football gala, quiz
competition as well as a hunting expedition.
END IA/
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