The Central Regional Director of the Centre for National Culture, Ms. Christiana Oparebea, has tasked stakeholders in the indigenous art forms to become more relevant to the country’s socio-economic development and not just mere entertainers.

She stated that society was changing rapidly, therefore, it required that organisations like the Fancy Dress Masqueraders Association to improve their act to meet the current trends, explaining that, ‘Today’s leadership in our society are now interested in contemporary relevance of arts groups and their contributions towards the development of the country.’

Ms. Oparebea made the call when she addressed a durbar to commemorate the centenary celebration of the Nobles No. 1 Fancy Dress Masqueraders Association, at Winneba under the theme “100 years of Masquerading Excellence, a Proud Tradition, Prospects, Challenges and the Way Forward”.

The day was commenced with a masquerading procession, amidst brass band music and dancing, to the durbar ground, where they were addressed by the invited guests including the Very Reverend Eldad Bonney, Presiding Member of Effutu Municipal Assembly.

Ms. Oparebea stated that, the theme was very appropriate, because it was very significant for one to take a moment periodically to assess the successes chalked as well as mistakes, challenges to put in place pragmatic measures and strategies to make a positive progress in the years ahead.

Referring to the just-ended National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFAC 2014), at Sunyani, she said, it is heartwarming that the country and the world over had come to admit the significant role arts could play in job and wealth creation for accelerated national development.

Therefore, it was important that masqueraders and other groups in the arts and culture industry periodically updated and upgraded themselves for accelerated national development and not for only fun making.

Nachyi Awo Kokoroko II, a Queen Mother of Awutu Beraku Traditional Area, and also the Chief Patron of the association, said the association was formed in 1914 by her great-grand father, and was later joined by others in the town at Domeabra, a community in Winneba, to entertain people in and around Winneba.

According to her, even though they had gone through numerous challenges over the years, they had survived by hard work and determination with divine sustenance.

Mr. Emmanuel Martey, Director of National Youth Authority, Effutu Municipal Directorate, who spoke on the topic, “Responsibilities of the Community towards the Empowerment of the Youth in the Arts and Culture Industry”, said the youth, being the future manpower machinery of the country, needed to be counseled and guided to attain viable skills and knowledge to be productive.

He said, if the youth were denied of holistic education and training to play significant roles, they would continue to indulge in immoral activities such as internet fraud (SAKAWA), robbery and drug abuse, which would neither help them nor the society.

He, therefore, advised parents to invest in the education of their children, even with their limited resources, rather than on litigations and funerals, which would not bring any growth to them.