By Prince Acquah
Elmina (C/R), July 02, GNA – A refreshing thick cloud of enthusiasm, exhilaration, and anticipation formed over the ancient city of Elmina when hundreds of ecstatic citizens and expatriates thronged the banks of the Benya Lagoon to witness the rituals for the 2025 Bakatue festival.
Customarily, sacred rites are performed to officially lift the ban on fishing activities in the Benya Lagoon (Bakatue) imposed by traditional authorities a month to the festival.
The Chief Priest of the Edina Traditional Area, together with the Edinamanhen, Nana Kodwo Conduah VI, led the chiefs and people through the hallowed rituals.
The priest served the gods with red and white mashed yam (ɛtɔ) three times, after pouring libation at the Benya Shrine, before casting the Omanhen’s net thrice.
Each cast came out with fishes to defeaning cheers from the gathering, who looked on anxiously, signifying blessings of bumper harvest and prosperity from the gods.
This year’s Bakatue celebration is on the theme: “Sustaining our heritage to promote tourism for community and national development.”
The blissful ceremony was graciously honoured by Mr Pavel Bilek, the Ambassador of Czech Republic to Ghana; Madam Fidelia Graand-Galon, Ambassador of Suriname, as well as Mrs Wendy Van Meel, Deputy Ambassador of Netherlands, and their entourage.
A thrilling regatta, interspersed with canoe stunts by various fisher groups, and heartwarming performances by colourfully dressed “Ntekuafo” on the canoes spiced up the rituals.
Indeed, the bank of the lagoon was an amphitheatre as the fisherfolks skilfully twisted and turned their branded canoes with various bright waving flags while the women sang and danced to rhythms from traditional drums.
It was an exciting scene of solemnity and entertainment.
Earlier, the chiefs embarked on a royal procession from the Anomansa Palace, the seat of the Edinamanhen, through the principal streets of the coastal city to the Benya Lagoon where the expectant crowd waited patiently.
Regally dressed, they were carried in their palanquins as the people cheered them on.
After all was said and done, Elmina became a large party ground, where traffic came to a standstill, revellers inundated the streets and business boomed.
Madam Graand-Galon, Ambassador of Suriname, congratulated the chiefs and people of Elmina on their celebration.
She highlighted the similarities between the people of Suriname and Ghana and stressed the need to see and treat one another as one people.
Mr Ismail Zagoon Saaed, the Municipal Chief Executive for Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA), observed that the festival promoted unity and development among the people.
As a tourism hub, he said Bakatue was a major driver of tourism but, however observed and denounced the poor state of sanitation in the town, stressing that proper sanitation was indispensable to tourism.
“Tourists are met with filth anytime they come to visit and that must be a concern for all of us. We must improve our sanitation situation to attract more tourists,” he said.
He also appealed to the people cut down on partisan politics and work together to expedite the development of the town.
Mr Saaed presented a cheque for 10,000 cedis to support the festival.
Mr Charles Buabin, the Central Regional Director of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), described the ceremony as colourful and beautiful in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA).
He entreated all citizens to emulate the unity demonstrated by the chiefs and people of Elmina at the festival.
The festival will be climaxed on Saturday, July 05 with a grand durbar expected to be graced by President John Dramani Mahama.
GNA
Edited by Alice Tettey /Linda Asante Agyei