Santrokofi Benua Homecoming Durbar Calls for Community-Wide Support for Clean-Up Initiative
The Chiefs, elders and people of Santrokofi Benua, a vibrant community in Ghana’s Oti Region, are gearing up for their highly anticipated homecoming durbar, scheduled from December 19th to 26th, 2024. As the community prepares to welcome its sons and daughters from near and far, the Assemblyman for the area, Isaac Grant, has made a passionate appeal for support to ensure the success of a critical clean-up exercise in the lead-up to the grand event.
According to the Chairman of the Ad hoc committee, Nana Buamah Kyerefor IV, who is the Twafohene of the Santrokofi Traditional Area, all is set for the week-long festivities, which will include a clean-up exercise, health screenings, an arrival party and street carnival, sporting activities, musical performances, and a grand durbar of chiefs and people on December 25th.
In a message addressed to the members of the Benua Development Committee, Assemblyman Grant has expressed the urgent need for financial contributions to facilitate the clean-up initiative, which is scheduled to take place from December 19th to 22nd. This community-wide effort aims to ensure that Santrokofi Benua is clean and presentable for the homecoming celebrations.
“As part of preparations for the upcoming Homecoming Debar, the community will undertake a clean-up exercise from December 19th to 22nd,” Grant wrote. “This initiative aims to ensure that our community is clean and presentable for the event.”
Recognizing the importance of youth involvement, the Assemblyman has appealed to the Benua Development Committee to assist in raising funds to motivate and support the young people who will be actively participating in the clean-up efforts, including painting the stones and cleaning the community.
“To motivate and support the youth who will actively participate in this effort, I humbly appeal to the Benua Development Committee to assist in raising funds. Your financial contributions, no matter how small, will go a long way in covering the costs and providing incentives to encourage participation,” the Assemblyman said.
The clean-up exercise is not just about ensuring a presentable community for the homecoming durbar; it is also an opportunity to foster unity and pride within the Santrokofi Benua community. Assemblyman Grant has urged all members of the Benua Development Committee to mobilize support through the number provided to ensure the success of this important initiative.
According to Grant, this exercise is not only an opportunity to prepare for the homecoming durbar but also to foster unity and pride within the community, and thereby urged citizens to mobilize support towards the clean-up exercise.
The Planning Committee Chairman, has been the driving force behind the community’s transformative journey, which seamlessly blends its rich cultural heritage with the power of modern technology. This ambitious endeavour is exemplified by the community’s long-standing dream of establishing a state-of-the-art multipurpose ICT centre.
The homecoming event was launched in October in Accra, at the prestigious Military Officers Mess near the 37 Military Hospital, was a powerful demonstration of the community’s unwavering commitment to progress. As the Ad hoc Committee Chairman took the stage, his words resonated with a palpable sense of conviction, echoing the community’s desire to chart a new course that marries traditional leadership with cutting-edge innovation.
During the launch, Nana Kyerefor said, “Our journey toward progress requires more than individual efforts; it demands a unified approach that harnesses the strength of our entire community, with his voice carrying the weight of experience earned through decades of community stewardship. The multipurpose ICT centre project represents not merely a building, but the cornerstone of our community’s future in an increasingly digital world.”
Drawing from the community’s rich history, the Twafohene painted a vivid picture of the challenges faced in the past, where development initiatives had faltered due to fragmented efforts and resource limitations. “We have learned valuable lessons from our past,” he reflected, his words imbued with the wisdom of experience. “Today, we stand at a crucial juncture where unity and strategic planning must guide our path forward.”
Complementing the Twafohene’s vision, the 91-year-old Nifahene of Santrokofi Traditional Area, Nana Sarku Brempong, delivered a heart-stirring appeal for enhanced community participation. With the authority that comes from a lifetime of service, the Nifahene who is a long-standing Lawyer, addressed the notable absence of community members residing in the greater Accra metropolitan area, including Tema, Ashiaman, and surrounding districts.
“We must learn from the lessons of the past and ensure consistent participation from all our community members,” the Nifahene urged, his voice carrying the weight of concern. “Those early days were fraught with challenges, and we watched as our initial efforts crumbled due to inconsistent participation and financial mismanagement. Today, we stand at a crucial crossroads where we must heed the lessons of history.”
To acknowledge these contributions, traditional authorities have implemented formal recognition systems, including official letters of appreciation and regular updates on project progress. This approach has strengthened the bonds between local and diaspora community members, fostering a more unified development front.
The upcoming December 25th durbar, themed “Building a Future for Our Community,” represents more than a celebration; it symbolizes the community’s commitment to progress while honoring its cultural heritage. Planned technology exhibitions, cultural performances, and community awards ceremonies will showcase this unique blend of tradition and innovation, providing tangible evidence of the community’s vision and achievements.
The event’s innovative approaches to inclusive participation, such as live streaming and digital communication channels, further demonstrate Santrokofi Benua’s embrace of technology. This technological integration serves as a practical example of the very future the ICT centre aims to create – a future where physical distance no longer limits community participation and development.
As the countdown to the grand durbar begins, the people of Santrokofi Benua stand united, their eyes fixed on the horizon, ready to embrace a tomorrow where technology and tradition converge to forge a brighter, more prosperous future for all. The homecoming celebration is not merely a cultural event; it is a clarion call for community-wide mobilization to address immediate needs, such as the clean-up initiative, while also laying the foundation for long-term transformation through the ICT centre project.
Through this comprehensive development approach, rooted in tradition yet embracing innovation, Santrokofi Benua is positioning itself as a beacon of rural transformation in Ghana’s Oti Region. By harnessing the power of technology and the wisdom of its traditional leadership, the community is poised to become a model for sustainable development, where progress and cultural preservation coexist harmoniously.
Source: Innocent Samuel Appiah
About Author
