TAMALE PREPARES TO HOST NAFAC (SHOWBIZ, PAGE 13, AUGUST 26, 2010)

THE Northern Regional capital, Tamale, would host the 2010 edition of the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFAC), which would be staged in November.
The NAFAC is used to showcase the rich diverse cultural resource of the country, as well as reenergise the country’s arts and cultural sector to contribute its quota towards national development.
The theme for this year’s event is “Promoting unity, technology and wealth creation for a better Ghana: the role of the youth in nation building.”
The Northern Region would utilise the event to showcase its investment opportunities, tourism potentials and innovative products.
As part of preparations for the event, district and regional festivals have been scheduled to take place so as to bring the festival closer to the people at the grassroots and also facilitate the selection of participants for the national event.
The zonal festival for Bole, Central Gonja, West Gonja and Sawla/Tuna/Kalba was held recently in Damongo, during which the participants performed various traditional dances, songs, poetry recitals and drum language.
There was also exhibition of farm implements, furniture, indigenous culinary, paintings, textiles, tourist sites and other locally manufactured products.
The administrative officer of the Centre for National Culture (CNC), Mr Abubakari Iddrisu Saeed mentioned that the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture was placing more emphasis on job creation for the youth.
He said the ministry was finalising proposals on job opportunities within the cultural sector, adding that the cultural sector would actively involve the youth in building a better Ghana by empowering them to realise their potentials.
Mr Saeed commended the district assemblies for facilitating the smooth organisation of the zonal festivals, adding these festivals were being used to choose a regional representation for the national event.
He entreated the assemblies, groups and individuals to use the platform created by NAFAC to exhibit their products and ideas.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for West Gonja, Mr Adam Mutawakilu said the Northern Region was endowed with several tourism potentials, some of which are located in the Gonja area.
He mentioned the Mole National Park, the Mystic Stone and Ancient Mosque at Larabanga, the Kulmasa Crocodile pond and the Ndewura Jakpa Grave at old Buipe.