They used the festival to call on stakeholders to collaborate to improve upon the quality of education and preserve the environment in the District.

The festival, popularly known as “Azambene” is celebrated annually by the people of the Bongo traditional area to commemorate the victory, inheritance and creation of the present Bongo from the Busasis, the original owners of the land.

The celebration over the last few years had received a District wide recognition where Chiefs, Queen Mothers, government officials and the citizenry came together to celebrate and reflect on some development issues as well as create platforms to institute programmes in the interest of the District.

The 11th Anniversary celebration was on the theme, “Supporting Education and Protecting the Environment through Culture, the Role of the Community”.

It was characterized by cultural performances including dancing and singing competitions, storytelling, drama, poetry recitals among others and attracted chiefs not only from the Bongo District and the Upper East Region but from outside the Region.

Speaking during the celebration, the Paramount Chief of the Bongo Traditional Area, Bonaba, Baba Salifu Atamale Lemyaarum, indicated that the celebration of the festival was very crucial to the development of the area as it united the people to undertake development projects.

He said the morals and lessons received through cultural teachings, ensured that members of the community were disciplined and law abiding, adding that, it was very necessary in protecting the environment and promoting good sanitation and health.

The Paramount Chief indicated that education was key to national development, and said funds raised annually from celebrating the festival was usually channelled to the development of education, particularly in assisting brilliant and needy students in the District.

He said the Bongo Traditional Council was doing a lot to help develop the District, and indicated however that funds usually realized were woefully inadequate and therefore appealed to community members and the media to project the festival to enhance patronage, which would subsequently increase funds realized after each celebration. 

Bonaba commended government for implementing some development projects in the District, including the cutting of the sod for the construction of the broken bridges and roads, the planting for food and jobs, the one village one dam, free Senior High School among others, adding that it would help raise the standard of living of the people.

Naba Lemyaarum appealed to government to honour the District’s request in 2012 for the construction of a Teacher Training College to help absorb the students coming out from the eight senior high schools in the District.

Mr Peter Ayinbisa Ayamga, the Bongo District Chief Executive (DCE), stated that government was committed to improving the lives of people in the area through the various interventions being implemented.

He disclosed that plans were advanced to have the Namoo Health Centre upgraded to a hospital and a mortuary would be contructed at Bongo-Gorigo.

The DCE appealed to Government to consider dividing the District into two constituencies and upgrading the Bongo District into a Municipality, adding that it would ensure adequate allocation of resources to enhance development.

Mr Ayamga, said he was determined to maintain operating an open door policy and was ready to work with any person irrespective of their political affiliation, and revealed that the District was endowed with lots of natural resources, which when tapped and harnessed could generate the needed revenue for its development.