By Muyid Deen Suleman, GNA
Kumasi July 20, GNA-The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) is partnering Bobigny, a France based NGO to promote cultural diversity, education and economic development for the mutual benefit of France and Ghana.
Mr. Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, KMA Chief Executive, made this known when he led a delegation from Bobigny in France, to participate in the fifth Akwasidae of the year, at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.
Akwasidae is a sacred, six-week festival celebrated by the Asante people.
The occasion is marked by a colourful royal durbar in which the Asantehene receives homage from sub-chiefs and subjects, honours past ancestors, and offers spiritual nourishment to the Golden Stool.
The French delegation’s visit formed part of an immersion programme organised by the Bomoyi Association, with support from the UNESCO Network, aimed at fostering stronger fraternal ties with the Ashanti Region.
Mr. Boadi noted that Kumasi stood prepared to collaborate with the visitors, emphasising that such engagements would unlock numerous opportunities for both sides.
The KMA Chief Executive described Kumasi as “where Ghana happens” a “cultural citadel,” and a “city where Ghana’s potential is unearthed.”
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, the Deputy Mayor, Nana Shodu, who is the head of the team, stated that the visit was more than a mere trip for the young participants accompanying her.
“It is a genuine immersion into Asante culture, and it is heartening to encounter people who are deeply proud of their history, traditions, and values at home,” she noted.
“We have come to discover, learn, listen, and forge bonds.
We are convinced that understanding one another is the first step toward lasting friendship,” she added.
Nana Shodu described the audience with Asantehene as a remarkable and unforgettable privilege and expressed the hope that the meeting would serve as the foundation for formal cooperation between Bobignyand Kumasi.
GNA
Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah/George-Ramsey Benamba
July 20, 2026