The Manya Krobo Traditional Council has launched the 2024 Ngmayem festival at a two-in-one event which was simultaneously used to raise funds for the speedy completion of the ongoing Manya Klo Palace project at Odumase-Krobo.

The launch and fundraising event held at the Adae Kese Hall at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra on Saturday 17th August on the theme, “Homecoming: Let’s Come Back Home to Build”, will be replicated in New York in the United States of America on Saturday 31st August, 2024.

The second leg of the launch and fundraising is meant, among others, to showcase the rich Krobo culture and raise additional funds to augment what was realized at Saturday’s event. 

Speaking at the launch, the Chairman of the 2024 Ngmayem Festival Planning Committee, Gilbert Nene Odjidja, unveiled a grand plan to complete the palace project before the end of October 2024 when this year’s festival will be celebrated.

According to Nene Odjidja, the project which is about sixty percent complete includes a residential facility for the royal family, a traditional council hall, offices, a museum, guests’ rooms, and a library, among others.

He noted that the vicinity of the Palace would also be transformed into an enclosed royal enclave to create the needed imperial ambience.  

In his brief remark that heralded the programme, Commissioner of Police (Rtd.) Francis Ebenezer Doku (also known as Asafoatse Odjeblema Angmortey I) gave a short exposition of the theme for the celebration, and urged his fellow tribesmen and women living beyond the boundaries of the Krobo state, particularly those sojourning abroad to come home and join the ongoing effort to build the Manya Klo state.

He lauded the organisers for what he described as a progressive step and urged the gathering to cheerfully donate in support of the beautiful initiative.

The Konor of Manya Krobo, who doubles as the President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, Nene Sakite II, extolled his forebears including Obliponi Odonkor Azu I, King Sakite I, Sir Emmanuel Mate-Kole I and Oklemekuku Azzu Mate-Kole II for showing the way and casting the solid foundation upon which the current generation now builds.

He noted that the building of a modern and more befitting palace for the Manya Klo state became a necessity and he was glad to see well-meaning Krobos and external donors responding positively to his call to come back home and build.

"This new palace remains a monument and a testament to our collective effort to forge ahead; the beauty in unity which is being displayed through these initiatives is particularly refreshing”, he noted. 

 Ghanaian female highlife queen and saxophonist of international renown, Eugenia Asabia Cropper, a native of Manya Krobo who is well known for her unmistakable kente headgear and ever-popular song composed in Dangme ‘Wa Maa Ya Dorm’ (We Are Home Bound), also graced the occasion and entertained the impressive array of guests with her beautiful songs.

Quality Krobo beads from Cedi Beads Industries, Odumase-Krobo and paintings from Sharon Dede Padi of Padiki Arts and Guinness World Record Paintathon attempter were on display and auctioned in support of the fundraising effort.

Notable dignitaries who attended the event included the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno; COP (Rtd.) Francis Ebenezer Doku;  Dr Stephen Opata, Advisor to the Governor on Financial Markets, Bank of Ghana; Ambassador Peter Nyako, Director General of the Research Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Dr Edward Atter Narh, CEO of the Narh-Bita Hospital and College and Mr Joe Muno, CEO of Afro Wings Travels and Tours.

Also present were Apostle Emmanuel Odoi-Baah, Internal Missions and Evangelism Director of the Apostolic Church of Ghana, who represented the President of the Apostolic Church of Ghana, Apostle Dr Aaron Nartey Aminarh; Hon. Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, Member of Parliament for Lower Manya Krobo, Hon. Simon Kweku Tetteh, MCE for Lower Manya Krobo Municipality, among a host of other dignitaries.