MTN Pledges To Promote Ghana’s Rich Culture

News Ghana, Latest Updates and Breaking News of Ghana, James Kweku Baako, https://www.newsghana.com.gh/mtn-pledges-to-promote-ghanas-rich-culture/

The Central and Western Area Sales Manager of Mobile Telephone Network (MTN), David Elinam Woasey, has pledged the African multinational company’s commitment to promoting rich African heritage.

Mr. Woasey made the promise when he led a delegation to present a cheque of twenty thousand Ghana cedis, souvenirs, and unspecified call credit to the Edina Traditional Council in support of the 2025 Bakatue Festival celebration. MTN had earlier supported the Bakatue Regatta with thirty-seven thousand Ghana cedis.

David Elinam Woasey disclosed that MTN presented the items to support this year’s Bakatue festival Regatta.

He said publicising the festival on MTN’s social media handles is another way of drawing people’s attention to court more support and promote culture and tourism.

The chief of Simiw, Nana Nguando, who received the donation on the Edina Traditional Council, thanked MTN for the support. He urged the leadership of MTN to deepen the partnership that has existed between the traditional council and the company over the years by working together with subsequent planning committees to ensure the Bakatue festival celebration is a success.

Origin Of the Bakatue Festival

“Bakatue”, translated, means “the opening of the lagoon” or the “Draining of the Lagoon”. It is celebrated to commemorate the founding of the Elmina town by the Europeans. It is also celebrated to invoke the deity, Nana Benya, for the continuous protection of the state and its people.

The term “Bakatue” is contradictory in its literal meaning, that is, the opening up of the lagoon. It has puzzled many in view of the obvious fact that, unlike a stagnant lagoon, which needs to be dug and opened up by artificial means when inundated, Benya naturally flows into the sea.

The lagoon is a veritable arm of the sea, and at high tide it runs four miles inland to “Anwiwdo”, which is supposed to be the source of Benya. The term Bakatue, therefore, is only ironically applied, and no Implements are necessary or employed to effect the opening into the sea, as it is a tidal lagoon.

The founder, Kwa Amankwa, is reported to have migrated from the Savana-based Walata Empire, settled at Techiman for some time, moved to Eguafo and thence to Elmina, where, in search of drinking water, and accidentally discovered a streamlet, exclaiming “Be-enya which expression means” I have found or got”.

To commemorate the discovery, a hut was erected where the emigrants refreshed themselves. Kwa Amankwa bowed and worshipped, and in the solemn silence, there suddenly appeared before him a god animate of the Lagoon, now called River Benya. The self-manifesting deity made human company with Amankwa for eight days, a period at the expiration of which a covenant was concluded between man and god.

The Edina Bakatue festival has existed since the discovery of the town centuries ago. Oral tradition has it that the inhabitants of Anomansa, the original name of Elmina, once offended the 77 divinities of the area.

This resulted in the only lagoon in the area, Benya, flooding the entire community. Based on the advice of the elderly, parts of the lagoon had to be desilted to make way for excess floodwater to enter the sea. This explains why the festival is called Bakatue. Etymologically, Bakatue means perforating the lagoon.

Bakatue is an Agricultural festival. It is held to welcome the harvesting of newly cultivated farm produce. Spiritually, the Bakatue festival is held to consult with spiritual beings about whether there will be a bumper fish catch in the year or not. Fisherfolk cast the net thrice to determine the quantity of fish caught.

The Bakatue festival celebration is unique as it attracts many tourists from inside and outside the country who visit the town.

Activities such as regatta, procession of chiefs and queen mothers in palanquins, rituals, and many other recreations characterised this year’s Bakatue festival celebration.

This festival climaxes on the first Saturday of the first week in July annually.

With additional information from visitghana

News Ghana, Latest Updates and Breaking News of Ghana, James Kweku Baako, https://www.newsghana.com.gh/mtn-pledges-to-promote-ghanas-rich-culture/

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