The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ada East Constituency, Mrs Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe-Ghansah, has urged the youth to be disciplined and desist from all forms of violence during and after the celebration of the Ada Asafotufiami festival which begins on Friday.
She also cautioned people who usually engaged in criminal activities during such gatherings to be guided as security agencies would deal ruthlessly with law breakers.
“The youth must be disciplined and be measured with their celebrations in order not to disturb the peace and unity within the community,” she stated in an interview with the Ghanaian Times.
“We all need to come out and celebrate the festival but in a decent manner in the spirit of unity and coexistence,” she added.
She disclosed that, there would be security cameras all over the town and persons who would engage in theft and other criminal activities would be captured and dealt with according to the law.
She also urged patrons of the festival to observe COVID-19 protocols in order to remain safe during and after the celebrations.
“Let us not also forget that the pandemic is still with us and there is the need to observe the protocols by wearing mask and washing hands regularly,” she stressed.
She also advised the youth to dress decently and avoid inappropriate exposures that do not portray Ghanaian culture and heritage.
The youth, she said, must be good ambassadors of the Ada people and the way they would dress would be a strong tool to showcase the culture of the people.
The festival she said, would be grand as it had not been celebrated for the past two years due to COVID-19 restrictions but advised all the remain safe as they carried out their activities.
“As you go to the beaches and the pubs to have fun, remember that Ghana needs the youth alive and must be safe at all times,” she stressed.
The Ada Asafotufiami is one of the biggest festivals in Ghana and would be celebrated from August 5-11 with a lineup of activities to display the rich culture of the Ada people and the country at large.
The MP who doubles as the second Deputy Minority Whip mentioned that, dignitaries including the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and former President John Dramani Mahama would be expected at the grand durbar scheduled for Saturday.
She called on all Ada people within the country and beyond to come home and join in the celebrations as they look forward to a very successful festival.
BY MICHAEL D. ABAYATEYE