This year’s Heritage Month was themed “Ninety Years of Upholding Our Cultural Heritage
Joseph Adjei, the Acting Eastern Regional Director of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), has urged Ghanaians to uphold their cultural heritage, pointing out its fundamental role in societal development.
Speaking at the climax of GBC Sunrise FM’s Heritage Month celebration in Koforidua, Adjei stressed that embracing Ghanaian traditions fostered a unique identity, cautioning that neglecting these customs could erode the nation’s cultural fabric.
This year’s Heritage Month was themed “Ninety Years of Upholding Our Cultural Heritage,” reflecting GBC’s commitment to preserving and promoting Ghanaian traditions over nine decades.
Adjei highlighted GBC’s role in safeguarding traditional values, languages, customs, and historical narratives through media and public engagement.
He further advocated the revitalization of the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFAC) to strengthen efforts in cultural preservation amid the growing influence of foreign cultures.
The event featured free health screenings provided by professionals from St. Joseph Orthopedic Hospital, alongside cultural performances from the Centre for National Culture, creating a vibrant atmosphere.
A major highlight of the celebration was a cooking competition among five institutions that included GBC Sunrise FM, St. Joseph Orthopedic Hospital, Koforidua Prisons Service, Koforidua Fire Service, and Eastern Regional Centre for National Culture.
GBC Sunrise FM secured victory, with Koforidua Fire Service emerging as first runner-up.
St. Joseph Orthopedic Hospital placed third, while Koforidua Prisons Service and the Eastern Regional Centre for National Culture took fourth and fifth positions, respectively.
Madam Dorcas Salamatu Alhassan, Eastern Regional Director of the Centre for National Culture, stressed that cultural promotion should extend beyond Heritage Month.
She urged Ghanaians to embrace indigenous food, dress, and languages as key aspects of their identity, encouraging them to pass traditions on to future generations.
Reverend Kennedy Tsamah, Head of Human Resources at the New Juaben North Municipal Education Directorate, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the importance of integrating Ghanaian cultural studies into the national education curriculum to allow students to appreciate and preserve their heritage.
Nana Krobea Asantewaa, Queen Mother of Effiduase and Nifahemaa of the New Juaben Traditional Area, highlighted the crucial role of parents in preserving Ghanaian culture.
She noted that families, as primary institutions of socialization, must instill traditional values in children to prevent cultural erosion caused by modernization and foreign influences.
“Culture represents identity, and parents must lead the way in teaching their children to uphold and practice traditions,” she said.
Isaac Kwadwo Frimpong Manso, Head of Marketing and Communication for the Eastern and Volta Regions at Promasidor Ghana Limited, reaffirmed Onga’s commitment to supporting Ghanaian cuisine and cultural initiatives.
He pledged continued sponsorship for next year’s Heritage Month celebration, further strengthening efforts to preserve local culinary heritage.
The event showcased the richness of Ghanaian culture, reinforcing the significance of heritage preservation and national identity in an era of globalization.
