Bolgatanga (Upper East Region) 22 Jan. '98

Bolgatanga is preparing to host this year's National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFAC '98). It will be celebrated from October 28 to November seven, under the theme "Cultural preservation: Foundation for National identity in the next millennium. The idea behind the chosen theme is to put on display the country's rich and diverse cultures. The regional director of the centre for National Culture, Mr. James Adabugah, disclosed this at a meeting with executive members of the regional advisory committee in Bolgatanga. He said as part of the preparations an 18 member National Planning Committee would be inaugurated early February in Bolgatanga, under the chairmanship of Chiana-Pio Pe Roland Ayagitam II, a member of the council of state. Mr. Adabugah said activities at the festival will include visits to the region's scenic sites such as the Paga crocodile pond, durbars of chiefs, craft bazaars, and exhibition of traditional handicrafts. There will be traditional drumming and dancing, band performances as well as an international friendship night with groups from neighbouring Togo and Burkina Faso. The regional director said the festival will give those who have never visited the region the opportunity of enjoying the hospitality of the people. He called for maximum support and co-operation of all Ghanaians to ensure that the festival succeed. Mr. Rockson Bukari, chairman of the regional cultural committee, pledged the support and co-operation of his colleagues and said everything would be done to ensure the success of the festival. Mr. Bukari, who is also the registrar of the Upper East Regional house of chiefs, thanked the government on behalf of the chiefs and people for selecting the region to host the festival. He, however, appealed to the National Commission on culture to ensure effective co-ordination between the various national and regional sub-committees that would be set up to organise the various aspects of the festival. gri