By Patrick Ofoe Nudzi
Accra, Jan. 5, GNA – About 7000 children within the Ga State have been greeted with sumptuous feast on Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II’s “Kinka Blonya,” an annual New Year Children’s Party.
The children, who were filled with excitement and joy enjoyed some hot dishes, including jollof, rice with stew, kenkey, banku, and fried fish.
They were also treated to a day of fun and games, including music, dancing, and musical chairs competition.
Clamouring to be served first at the Bukom Park, the jubilant children were also given gifts and souvenirs, including school bags, books, pens and pencils from the Ga Mantse
The “Kinka Blonya” is the name given to the annual New Year children’s party organized by then “Abiasuma”, King Tackie Tawia I, who reigned from 1862-1902 and had been acclaimed as the most illustrious and progressive Ga King
The venerable King was not only development-oriented, but also a leader who identified himself with his people and throughout his reign, King Tackie Tawiah l, demonstrated extraordinary sense of statesmanship and fairness by seeking the welfare of his people.
In 2018, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, Ga Mantse, reignited “Kinka Blonya” where he served over 750 children with food and drinks. The event since then had experienced a steady and encouraging increase in attendance over the years.
At the Kinka Blonya 2024, King Teiko Tsuru II urged every child to go to school and parents to take advantage of the Ga Mantse scholarships to push their children high the academic ladder.
“This is a significant initiative for the Ga State and together with my chiefs and Queen mothers, we are nurturing young talents and bringing the best out of these children participants,” he said.
The King said: “Education for our children is my priority. The “Kinka Blonya” is not about food, drinks and parties but giving out scholarships to children. Just recently, my Foundation, the Ga Mantse Foundation gave out scholarships of about 100,000 to 10 basic schools.”
He said the Ga Mantse Foundation would continue with the annual event and urged the Ghana Education Service (GES) to ensure that the Ga and Dangbe languages were taught strictly in the Greater Accra Region.
The “Kinka Blonya” saw the children perform cultural dances, engaged in musical chairs competition and with popular Ghanaian songwriter and Musician, Kofi Kinaata giving the children the show of their lives.
GNA