Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Minister of Tourism Culture and Creative Arts has said Chieftaincy institutions play a critical role in the traditional governance system of contemporary Ghana.

She said the position of chiefs and queen mothers had undergone major transformation over the period until the institution of the practice of Western Democratic principles.

Mrs Ofosu-Adjare was speaking at the opening of the Homogeneous Festival colloquium in Accra on Friday.

The Homogeneous festival dubbed: “Homofest” 2015, was instituted last year by the Ministry of Tourism Culture and Creative Arts as part of measures to promote domestic tourism.

It is also aimed at fostering unity among the Ga Dangbes, in addition to creating awareness among the indigenes, while promoting their food, dance and music.

The festival is also part of the Ministry's 'Explore Ghana' project, which has the sole objective of promoting Domestic tourism.

She said chieftaincy was a medium for expression of social, political, religious and to some extent economic authority vested in chiefs, queen mothers and other traditional functionaries in the country.

“It will be recalled that when the Europeans arrived in the Coast of Ghana, it was with the chiefs and their Councilors with whom, they signed agreements,” she added.

The Minister said the Ministry was ready to partner with the chiefs and queen mothers in the country to preserve the rich culture and traditions of the people.

She, therefore, asked parents to create an enabling environment to educate their children on the rich culture of their various areas.

Other programmes lined up for this year’s celebrations include a cooking competition and a Miss Homofest pageant, which would be held on Friday, October 9 and a grand durbar of chiefs and people of the Ga Dangbe community on Saturday, October 10.