New Juabeng cultural fiesta ends

Story: A. Kofoya-Tetteh, Koforidua
March 12, 2008

A spectacular cultural display and poetry recitals depicting the way of life of people, especially how to prevent negative tendencies that affect societal progress, were the main features of this year’s New Juaben Basic Schools Arts and Cultural Festival held in Koforidua.
The event, which ended at the almost completed theatre of the Centre for National Culture (CNC), saw the young artistes performing sketches on environmental cleanliness, HIV/AIDS, evils of ethnocentrism, girl-child education, outmoded customs, election 2008 and drug abuse.
Also present at the ceremony were talented artistes of the Abibigoroma Theatre Company, whose humorous and captivating performances kept the audience laughing almost throughout the show.
The three-day event on the theme: “Encouraging Reading Habit and Creative Writing” was organised by the Eastern regional office of the CNC, in collaboration with Unimax Macmillan, dealers in education materials as well as Ghana Telecom.
It brought together basic schools in the municipality whose artistes thrilled the audience to captivating performances drumming home the negative things that affect society.
So spectacular were the performances that some members of the audience, who were glued to their seats, wanted the event to be organised at short intervals instead of it being a yearly affair.
The performances of all the young artistes, who thrilled the audience, made it difficult for the judges to select the best among them.
However, after a series of consultations, the panel of judges picked Enoch Ankrah of Adweso Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Junior High School (JHS) as the Best Actor, with Eunice Yeboah of Korle Nkwanta Good Shepherd JHS as the Best Actress.
The Best Organised Play with the title “Filth, the Hidden Tragedy” went to Wesley International SHS while the Best Story with the title “The Dilemma” went to Korle Nkwanta Good Shepherd JHS.
The Best Poem award was won by Nana Kwaku Boateng of ‘B’ JHS with the Promising Actor award going to Prince Agyepong, also of Korle Nkwanta Good Shepherd JHS.
The Promising Actress diadem was taken by Lawrencia Ansah of Wesley International JHS while Adwoa Adubea of Nana Kwaku Boateng ‘B’ JHS took the prize for the Best Poetry.
In an address, the Eastern Regional Director of the CNC, Mr F. Kingsley Obeng, said since drama was a tool for education, communication, information and entertainment, which provided enlightenment and self-realisation to individuals, his outfit would continue to organise such events to help improve society.
He thanked all past sponsors of the event for their significant assistance.
Mr Raymond Bedoa who read the Regional Minister’s speech, advised the schoolchildren on HIV/AIDS while Mr Fleischer-Brook, the Regional Director of Ghana Telecom, and Mr Hamdu Mohammed, the Sales Representative of Unimax Macmillan for Eastern and Volta regions, expressed their willingness to continue to support similar events to be organised by the CNC.