Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, the Ga Mantse, on Saturday joined the chiefs and people of Elmina for the climax of the 2026 Bakatue Festival and expressed solidarity with the traditional authority while calling for stronger political support to accelerate development in the historic coastal city.
The occasion showcased history, peace, love and cultural splendour as two distinct, yet closely related traditions converged in a colourful celebration marked by glamour, pageantry and shared heritage.
Vibrant cultural music and dance performances, richly adorned traditional attire, indigenous languages, the rhythms of drums and flutes, musketry displays and customary rites created an atmosphere of unity and cultural pride.
The grand entry of the Ga Mantse into Elmina and his majestic procession to the forecourt of the historic Elmina Castle, the durbar grounds, captivated thousands of revellers and stood out as a moment of cultural magnificence.
The Bakatue Festival, which means “opening of the lagoon,” marks the beginning of a new fishing season and the traditional New Year of the Edina people.
Earlier in the week, Nana Kodwo Conduah VI, the Edinamanhen, together with traditional priests, performed customary rites to lift the month-long ban on fishing in the Benya Lagoon as well as restrictions on music and noisemaking to usher in the new season.
This year’s celebration was held on the theme: “Homecoming for Unity, Heritage, and Development.”
Addressing the gathering, Nii Tsuru highlighted the immense economic potential of Elmina’s fishing industry and stressed the need for close collaboration between traditional and political leaders to harness it fully.
He urged Mr Ekow Panyin Okyere Eduamoah, the Central Regional Minister, to work closely with Nana Kodwo Conduah to address youth unemployment and poor sanitation in the municipality.
“There is a lot to do for the youth of Elmina especially when it comes to employment and so Regional Minister, please don’t sleep on it. You need to support Nana Conduah to do that work,” he stressed.
Referring to the recent floods that affected parts of the Central Region, resulting in deaths and displacement, the Ga Mantse called on the Regional Minister to make sanitation a priority and mobilise the youth for regular clean-up exercises.
On challenges confronting fishers, Nii Tsuru advocated sustainable measures to end recurring shortages of premix fuel, stressing that the product should remain available and affordable.
Expressing his affinity with the people of Elmina, he recounted how King Tackie Tawiah I, a former Ga Mantse, was held captive at Elmina Castle for three years for preventing the British from fighting the Ashantis.
“We are one people and the sacrificial sheep you slaughtered for me effectively makes us one family,” he stressed.
In his welcome address, Nana Kodwo Conduah appealed to the Government to expedite efforts to revive the Komenda Sugar Factory to stimulate economic activity and reduce youth unemployment in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem Municipality.
He lamented that the factory was becoming a white elephant despite its potential to provide direct and indirect employment for hundreds of young people.
The Edinamanhen also called for the expansion of the Elmina Government Hospital to meet the growing healthcare needs of residents and surrounding communities.
He reiterated his appeal for the lifting of the ban on saiko, arguing that it provided employment opportunities and served as an affordable source of fish for many fishing communities.
Additionally, he renewed calls for the restoration of the Traditional Council’s share of revenue from Elmina Castle, which was revoked on July 9, 1999.
According to him, the loss of that revenue has placed financial pressure on the Traditional Council and constrained development initiatives, including scholarship support for brilliant but needy students.
“It is unfair to have a mango tree on your compound, prune it and sweep all the dirt it generates, but you are not allowed to eat some of the fruits,” he lamented.
He further appealed for a school bus for Edinaman Senior High School to facilitate the transportation of students.
Responding, Mr Eduamoah accepted the challenge thrown down by the Ga Mantse and pledged his continued support for the Edina Traditional Council.
On unemployment, he said Government had introduced various interventions and would continue to explore additional measures to create opportunities for young people.
He encouraged the youth to pursue vocational and technical skills, describing skills training as a viable pathway to employment and citing his own experience as an example.
He noted that skills development would enable young people to participate meaningfully in the Government’s 24-hour economy policy.
Mr Eduamoah, who also serves as a sanitation ambassador, highlighted the environmental and economic costs of poor sanitation, insisting that the recent floods in the Central and Greater Accra regions were largely attributable to human activities.
He therefore called for behavioural change and improved sanitation practices.
GNA
