The annual massive cleanup exercise that precedes the celebration of the Bakatue Festival of the people of Elmina is evidently missing this year following the cancellation of the festival due to the Covid 19 pandemic.
The exercise, a major event on the traditional calendar of the people of Edina, in previous years was spearheaded by the Omanhen Nana Kwodwo Conduah IV and played a major conduit for sustaining good sanitation in the area.
However, the cancellation of the festival has taken a toll on this key sanitation initiative.
A member of the annual Bakatue Festival Committee, Ebo Dadzie speaking to ATLFMNEWS called on indigenes of the town to support the traditional council and assembly to clean the filth currently engulfing the ancient town. He said collective support from residents will be much needed especially at a time when the traditional council is faced with financial challenges due to the cancellation of this year’s Bakatue.
Related: 2020 Edina Bakatue Festival cancelled
“There is always a massive cleanup exercise a week to the festival spearheaded by the paramount chief, Nana Kwodwo Condua, the youths, and assembly members in the various electoral areas but this has been impossible this year due to the cancellation of the festival, and that has accounted for the filth we are seeing around”, he said.
Mr Ebo Dadzie seized the opportunity to appeal to the general public to help with donation of sanitary tools to help in getting rid of the filth engulfing the Elmina.
The Edina Traditional Council on June 8, 2020 called off the 2020 edition of the Edina Bakatue Festival following the announcement of restrictions on public gatherings by President Akufo-Addo in a bid to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in the country.
In a press statement signed by the Registrar of the Council, Miss Plange Ogoe and copied ATLFMNEWS, the council said although the celebrations will not take place “all traditional rites will be performed by Nananom in accordance with Edina Traditions and customs”.
It noted decisions to call off the celebrations was a difficult one considering the review and launch of this year’s festival which was to herald the main celebrations in July, which was intended to be unique.
However, the council said it was “very hopeful of making a comeback next year”.
Source : Anne Vigbedorh /ATLFMNEWS
