Kintampo gears up for 2022 Benkadi Kurubi festival
The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has urged traditional authorities to register with it in order to be duly recognised and supported during festivals.
It said this had become necessary because festival dates had to be streamlined to accord all festivals the same recognition and support.
The Director of Corporate Affairs of the GTA, Reverend Jones Nelson, made this known in Accra on Friday when the Overlord of the Wangara community, Massaba Sariki Fanyinama, called on the management of the authority to notify them about the Benkadi festival which is celebrated in November annually.
He was at the GTA to formerly invite the management of the authority to the festival in Kintampo.
Rev Nelson explained the significance of registering festivals with the authority, saying they were important tourism attractions from far and near who come to watch the rich cultural heritage of the people.
On his part, the Overlord of the Wangara people said the festival known in Islam as Benkadi Kurubi, which means light, was meant to express gratitude to Allah, plan development and make merry.
Kintampo, he said, was considered spiritual home of the Wangaras where the Wangara people from all walks of life travel to Kintampo to be part of the celebration.
The 2022 Benkadi Kurubi festival is on the theme “leveraging culture to promote tourism and economic opportunities.”
The Massaba Fanyinama said dignitaries to grace this year’s festival would include Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the King of Gonna land Tuntumba Borre Essa, traditional rulers and the Bono Regional Minister, Mr Kwesi Adu Gyan.
BY NORMAN COOPER
