A GNA feature by Mildred Siabi-Mensah
Takoradi, Sept. 14, GNA – Last Friday, I met two prominent kingmakers of the Ahanta land, they were obviously worried about emerging early warning signals that have the potential to affect the wellbeing of the Ahanta people.
In recent times the area has witnessed a lot of chieftaincy upheaval, unwarranted death and destruction of properties.
When I read that the Regional Minister and Regional Security Council had put a hold on Kundum in Upper and Lower Dixcove, I was saddened that personal, interest unlike collective good of the people was becoming entrenched at the expense of communities.
That bold decision by the Regional Minister and the REGSEC must not be shredded but respected for progressive society.
The drums of Kundum are not merely instruments of celebration but a call home.
They summon sons and daughters who have travelled far from their ancestral communities, reunite families, revive old friendships and reconnect younger generations with traditions inherited from their forebears.
From Kundum in the Western Region; Homowo in Greater Accra, Aboakyir in the Central Region and Hogbetsotso in the Volta Region, to the many traditional celebrations held across the country, festivals remain among Ghana’s most visible expressions of heritage and national pride.
They preserve history, strengthen social bonds and create opportunities for tourism and local economic growth.
For these benefits to endure, one ingredient remains indispensable — peace.
This has become particularly relevant to the 2026 Kundum celebrations in Upper and Lower Dixcove, where disagreements surrounding the organisation of the festival have raised concerns about traditional authority, security and the unity of the people.
Two prominent kingmakers of Ahanta land, who expressed concern about recent developments, described the situation as one requiring careful attention before disagreements deepen into consequences that could affect the wider community.
Their concerns are significant against the backdrop of chieftaincy-related tensions and incidents of death and destruction of property witnessed in parts of the area in recent times.
It was against such circumstances that the Western Regional Security Council (REGSEC), chaired by Regional Minister Joseph Nelson, halted the planned Grand Durbars of the Upper and Lower Dixcove paramountcies, citing public-safety concerns.
The decision may have disappointed residents and those who had planned to return home, but it also raises a fundamental question:
What is the value of a festival if the people it is meant to unite cannot celebrate it in peace?
More than a festival
For the Ahanta people, Kundum is much more than an annual gathering.
It is a living connection to their ancestors and a means of transmitting culture from one generation to another.
Families cook together. Friends meet again. Traditional leaders interact with their people. Young people participate in cultural activities.
The festival creates a shared experience that strengthens the social fabric of the community.
That social bond is one of the most important, yet sometimes overlooked, benefits of traditional festivals.
An economic opportunity
Festivals also bring money into local communities.
The influx of visitors creates demand for accommodation, food, transport, clothing, entertainment and locally produced goods.
For young people, festivals can create opportunities in photography, hairdressing, event management, catering, transportation, cultural merchandise and other services.
If properly organised, the economic benefits can extend beyond the few days of celebration and this is where festivals can become instruments of local development.
Part of the revenue and partnerships generated around major cultural events can support sanitation, education, health, youth development, environmental protection and other community priorities.
A gateway to tourism
Ghana’s festivals also have enormous potential to drive cultural tourism.
Dixcove, for instance, has attractions that can complement Kundum, including its coastal environment, fishing heritage, traditional institutions and the historic Fort Metal Cross.
A visitor who travels to the area for Kundum could stay longer to explore these attractions, eat local food, purchase crafts and experience the community’s way of life.
In fact, Cultural celebrations can become gateways to historical sites, traditional craft centres, local cuisine and other tourism attractions.
This can create jobs, encourage marriages and generate income while encouraging communities to protect the heritage that attracts visitors in the first place.
Tourism cannot flourish where there is fear and uncertainty as visitors need to feel safe.
When culture becomes divided
The present disagreement surrounding Kundum therefore deserves careful attention.
The matter reportedly reached the High Court, which encouraged the parties to return home and resolve their differences amicably.
There were subsequently indications that the Upper and Lower Dixcove paramountcies were prepared to work towards a joint Grand Durbar.
That prospect offered hope that the festival could become a symbol of reconciliation.
However, REGSEC’s intervention, based on concerns about possible confrontation and threats to public safety, changed the situation because the government has a duty to protect lives and property.
Traditional authorities have a responsibility to protect customs, traditions and the dignity of their stools and the common objective must be peace.
Concerns raised by traditional authorities, including Awulae Agyefi Kwame II, the Paramount Chief of the Nsein Traditional Area, also demonstrate how questions surrounding festivals can be linked to deeper issues of customary authority, traditional jurisdiction, history and identity, what appears to be a disagreement over a festival can therefore carry implications far beyond the celebration itself.
That is why dialogue, restraint and respect for traditional processes remain critical.
The country’s numerous festivals demonstrate the richness of a nation whose different communities have maintained distinctive traditions while contributing to one national heritage.
The controversy surrounding the 2026 Kundum celebrations is undoubtedly painful, but it can also become an opportunity.
It can encourage stakeholders to develop better mechanisms for resolving traditional and festival-related disagreements before they become security concerns.
There should be a solid planning committee in place, which would involve the relevant stakeholders such as the Ghana Tourism Authority, the Ministry of Culture and chieftaincy Affairs and the Regional Security Council.
GNA
Edited by Justina Hilda Paaga/Benjamin Mensah
Feature Writer: Mildred Siabi-Mensah
Email address: [email protected]