Ntotroso (B/A) Aug. 16 (Dennis Peprah) GNA - The Chiefs and people of Ntotroso and surrounding communities in Asutifi District of Brong-Ahafo on Tuesday held a colourful durbar at Ntotroso to perform a traditional naming and adoption ceremony for 12 students of Al Raby Secondary School in Chicago, Illinois in the United States of America. The event formed part of a cultural and educational exchange programme for the benefit of the people in the communities and their counterparts in the United States.

It was a follow-up to a visit by Nana Barimah Twereku Ampem III, chief of Ntotroso to participate in the fifth annual focus on Africa business opportunity conference of African Connections, an international non-governmental organisation in Chicago and Northwest Indiana in July this year.

During the visit the chief met educational leaders and expressed interest in forging an international sister-relationship with his people.

Performing the traditional naming, Nana Twereku explained that his traditional area had been ushered into a new socio-economic and political environment with the creation of the Asutifi district and the emergence of competitive economic activities including gold production by Newmont Ghana Gold limited.

He said it was imperative to arm oneself with the requisite educational qualifications and skills to enter the market of competitive job opportunities in the country.

Nana Twereku urged the American students to cherish the traditional names bestowed on them, to feel at home and be part of the cultural heritage to ensure fruitful sister-city relationship. Mr. Poku Peprah, District Chief Executive, noted that the relationship between both countries would pave way to attract more investors to the area.

He said even though both countries were bestowed with unique and different cultural backgrounds, there was the need to exchange such educational programmes to strengthen the relationship between them. The DCE said the district has a total land area of about 1, 500 kilometres square with a population of about 90,000 people, adding the district had adopted education as its main development focus with emphasis on the provision of infrastructure, scholarships and advocacy.

Mr. Peprah announced that plans were underway for the district assembly with support from GETFUND to establish vocational and tertiary institutions to enhance education in the district.

He expressed grave concern about the misconception that African values and culture were inferior.

Dr. Ayesha Hakeem, Managing Director of African Connections Ghana Limited, expressed optimism that such cross-cultural events would benefit both countries as those on each side would learn more about each other, share information and broaden their horizon.

She gave assurance that the organisation would continue to work with the people of the district to ensure that a lasting cultural and educational linkage was established between the youth in the district and students of Al Raby Secondary School.

Dr Hakeem asked the students to honour the names and traditional norms of the people and thanked the chiefs for adopting them, expressing the hope that their presence in the district would accelerate development.

The students who later presented 25 computers to the community were Miss Stacey Wright who was re-named Nana Akosua Prempeh, Master Romell Lee as Nana Akwasi Akyereko, Anthony Love as Nana Kwaku Adu, Kelvin Daggett, as Nana Yaw Fosu, Ms. Brittany Griffin as Nana Akosua Kwartemaa and Ms. Shijuanna Oliver as Nana Abenaa Owusuaa.

Ms. Trina Gunn was named Nana Akosua Ponmaa, Mrs. Amazon Smiley as Nana Abenaa Nkrumah, Ms. Zakaria Tenny as Nana Akua Addai, Ms. Yaskeka Johnson as Nana Akua Acheampomaa and Ms. Shayla Gilmore as Nana Abenaa Ponmaa.

Miss Brittany Griffin, leader of the students told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview that they decided to adopt the village of Ntotroso as their home and intended to have a long standing relationship with the town as a result of their cordial relationship with Nana Twereku to help build continued mutually beneficial cultural and educational exchange programmes to benefit all involved. 17 Aug. 06