....Program of the festival Released.
The Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture, Mr. Samson Kweku Boafo informed Ghana Home Page this morning that he will definitely attend Ghanafest 2008 in Chicago on Saturday, July 26 2008. Mr. S.K Boafo is scheduled for an event in New York but decided to detour to Chicago to grace the function.

Officials of the Ghana National Council were scratching their heads yesterday to find a new keynote speaker after the original speaker, Ghana’s Ambassador to the U.S.A; Dr. Kwame Bawua-Edusei pulled out at the last minute and refused to send an official from the Embassy to deputize for him.

Sponsored by the City of Chicago, Ghanafest is one of the fastest growing neighborhood festivals in the Chicago area and the largest Ghanaian Cultural festival in the diaspora. Last year, it attracted over twenty thousand attendees. Attendance this year is expected to be higher. Many Ghanaian and tourist organizations have called the organizers to reserve a spot for their members!

Meanwhile, the Ghana National Council of Metropolitan Chicago has released the program for the festival yesterday. The festival will start at 11 AM with live music and the general public is anticipated to participate. The Fante Benevolent Society will pour the libation at this year’s festival. Ga-Adangbe Organization will continue with the traditional sprinkling of kpokpoi which will be followed by a cultural performance by the Borborbor and Adowa groups. The number of speakers and the time for the speeches has been cut down by the organizers. Speakers will be allowed to talk for 10 minutes and the procession of chiefs and queens will last 20 minutes for each group. The floor will be opened for live music and D.J show from 6 P.M uninterrupted till 10P.M. Expected to perform at this year’s festival are MzBel, Castro, Tic Tac, KK Fosu and a professional cultural group from Cincinnati.

Ghanaweb as usual will cover the event. Visit ghananationalcouncil.org for more information on Ghanafest 2008.