The Bechem Traditional Council, in collaboration with the Tano South District Assembly, will climax the  celebration of the biennial “Adekyem” Festival of the chiefs and people in the area on Saturday, November 30.

“The Adekyem festival is a re-enactment of their history to celebrate the contribution of Bechem towards Ghana’s educational and agricultural development”.

Mr Bukari Anaba Zakari, Tano South District Chief Executive, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Bechem on Thursday, said the involvement of the assembly in the celebration reinforced its partnership with the Council to ensure a holistic socio-economic development in the area.

 He said the Assembly had not only supported the Council financially but effectively been involved in the event when it was launched early this year, the planning and implementation of all the activities for a successful celebration.

Mr Zakari explained that the Assembly and the Council were partners in development because both entities existed to promote and ensure the political and socio-economic well-being of the people.

He noted that as a local government authority, the Assembly could not be successful in the implementation of development projects without the active involvement of the people for whose interest the projects were initiated.

“The need to count on the traditional authority as the leadership of the people in their efforts to assist them in their developmental initiatives is paramount,” he added.

Mr Zakari announced that the Council had adopted Bechem United Football Club, a premiership side, as its traditional club with Nana Fosu Gyeabour Akoto the Second, Paramount Chief of Bechem Traditional Area as the Life Patron.

He explained that football was the passion of the people, therefore, the Assembly assisted the club with a cheque for GH¢ 10,000 to purchase a bus.

This is the first payment of a GH¢ 20,000 pledge by the Assembly on qualification to the Ghana Premiership League competition.

Mr Zakari said the Assembly had contributed GH¢ 10,000 towards the celebration of the festival as part of its partnership with the Council, to realize its vision of holistic development for the people.

He said the Assembly had undertaken numerous developmental projects in the district for the past five years, including gravelling of the four-kilometre Bechem town roads, construction and equipping the Maternity Ward of Bechem Government Hospital at an estimated cost of GH¢ 155,000. 

The week-long festival from Friday, November 22 to Sunday, December 1, is on the theme: “Adekyem Festival – A Tool for the Socio-Economic Development of Bechem Traditional Area”.

Activities lined up for the festival include a prayer session, youth football gala by local churches, communal labour, orientation workshop on emotions and development for the chiefs, breast cancer screening, blood donation and family planning forum.

Among dignitaries expected are, Mr Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur, Vice President and Otumfuor Osei Tutu the Second, Asantehene.

Bechem is derived from the Akan name ‘Adekyem,’ which literally means a place where items or gifts are distributed or shared, to remind the historical role of Bechem as the place where booty gained from the Asante wars was shared.

GNA