NLA donates towards Two Festivals in Northern Ghana

Sandema (UE), Nov. 25, GNA - The National Lottery Authority (NLA) has presented cheques of GHc8,000 each to two separate traditional councils in the Upper East and Upper West Regions. The presentations were meant to assist in the celebration of this year’s Feok and Kakube festivals of the chiefs and people of the Builsa and Nandom Traditional Councils respectively.   The Builsa Traditional Council received a cheque for GH₵5,000 and 50 branded NLA anniversary T-shirts, while the Nandom Traditional Council got a cheque for GH₵3000 and 50 branded NLA anniversary T-shirts.   The donation formed part of the NLA's 50th anniversary celebration and its contribution in the development of the country through games and economic growth. Making the donation at a meeting with some members of the two Traditional Councils at Sandema and Nandom respectively, Mr George Gyamfi-Osew, Director of Special Projects at the NLA noted that as part of his outfit's mandate to develop the country through games, it had supported festivals in most parts of the country to promote cultural heritage.   He said the NLA as part of its corporate social responsibility was focusing on investing in education and alleviating poverty in the country with special attention on the northern parts of the country.   He expressed satisfaction at the unity and cohesion that had existed in the Builsa Tradition Council and said that peace was a pre-requisite for development in society. He called on the chiefs and people of the two tratitional areas to embrace peace for the continuous development of their areas even as this year's elections fast approached.   Nab Apig-Jiak Afulang, Siniensi–Nab who received the cheque and NLA anniversary T-shirts on behalf of the Traditional Council, indicated that the Feok festival would be celebrated in December in memory of the victory of their ancestors over slave raiders in the 18th century, and as a thanksgiving for a good harvest in the just-ended farming season.   He said the celebration of the festival was further intended to bring the people of the traditional area together to deliberate on developmental issues like the falling standards of education and the economic transformation of the people. Mr Norbert Awulley, Builsa District Chief Executive thanked the NLA on behalf of the chiefs and people for the kind gesture and pledged they would use it for the intended purpose.   The Chief of Nandom, Naa Dr. Puoure Puobe Chiir VII, commended management of the NLA for the gesture and pledged to educate his subjects against patronising banker-to-banker lottery. He indicated that the gesture would contribute immensely towards the proper organisation of the festival which was meant to re-awaken the people to appreciate their tradition and culture and also give the people the opportunity to thank their ancestors and ask them to bless the soil and protect them during subsequent farming seasons. The Kakube festival is celebrated from the last week in November to the first week of December.   GNA...