Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu Adjare, Minister of Tourism Culture and Creative Arts, says in order to develop the traditions and customs as a country, it is important to hold on to the reverence given to chiefs.

This, she said would facilitate the influence chiefs carry as cultural showpieces.

She said traditional rulers are very essential rallying points for social mobilisation and tourism production.

Mrs Ofosu Adjare was speaking at the official launch of the second edition of the Homogenous Festival dubbed: Homofest 2015, in Accra.

She said the festival is made up of an amalgam of Ga-Damgbe traditional festivals like Homowo, Asafotufiam, Ngmayem and Kpledjoo to celebrate in unity, brotherliness and togetherness.

She noted that the Homofest is not to undermine what the forbearers of the Ga Dambges have celebrated from time immemorial which is still an integral part of their daily lives, but is to bring Ga Dangbes community together and also to recognise Ga Damgbe’s people for providing land and other resources for national projects.

Mrs Ofosu Adjare said the festival is aimed at creating a feeling of pride and spiritual bondage in the cultural heritage and spiritual affirmation for the indigenes of the Greater Accra Region, and also promote unity for national and community development, job creation and showcasing of the rich and authentic culture of the Ga Dangbes to the wider populace.

She noted that the festival is an occasion for stock taking, reconciliation and exchange of views on matters concerning the Ga Dangbe family and on the larger scale offers Ghanaians and international tourist a rare opportunity to witness the rich culture and tradition of the Ga Dangbe people.

“Above all, the Homofest is to climax the celebrations of the Homowo festival of the people of Ga Dangbe after all the stools namely, Tema, Nungua, Teshie, Osu, La, Prampram, Ningo, and Ga Mashie have all completed their individual celebrations,” she stated.

The sector Minister said the occasion is also to create awareness among the indigenes, while promoting food, artefacts, dance and music as well as support urban renewal and regeneration of the Region and its environs, adding that it is also meant for the people to reflect on their past, settle on their difference, forgive one another and to show love.

She stated that Homofest has added a fresh dimension to Ghana’s cultural tourism product, assuring that the ministry is going to promote the festival as one of its flagship attractions to influence the travel decision of visitors to Ghana especially during the last quarter of the year.

Nii Djangba Vanderpuije, Deputy Regional Minister said the joint occasion of Homofest is to showcase the cultural heritage at different stages of the people of Ga Dangbe to the nation.

He said the introduction of Homofest was introduced to climax the celebrations of the Homowo festival of the people of Ga Dangbe to promote unity, peaceful co-existence among traditional authorities.

He said the festival would go a long way to increase the tourism potential of Ghana, and offer the region the opportunity to discuss issues affecting the area and the country as a whole and bring together chiefs from all the traditional areas.

The Deputy Minster called on corporate Ghana to get involved to sponsor and support the Ministry to organise successful festivals in the coming years.

Nii Lantey Vanderpuije, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development said it is important for Ghanaians to have a positive attitude towards the nation’s culture and tradition and instill in the youth our the rich heritage.

He said: “We should not celebrate the Homofest just for the sake of celebrating but to reawaken the spirit of revival of our conscience as far as our culture and tradition is involved”.