Masquerades festival opens in Takoradi

Takoradi, Dec. 26 GNA - The first ever Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis Masquerade Festival is ongoing in Takoradi.

The festival, which was organised, by SKYY Power FM, a local radio and Television station witnessed the gathering of the various masquerade groups as part of activities marking Christmas.

Lucky Mensah, a popular musician was there to treat the eager crowd to his song "Come Back to me".

The two-day festival would be climaxed on Dec. 27 after which best groups would receive sponsorship packages. Among the groups participating in the festival are Westside from New Takoradi, Sannato Boys, Valencia, Nyanta from Sekondi, Cosmos, Parma, Holy City, Unity, Spain, Mississippi from New Takoradi and Tombous.

The participating groups are expected to perform using various dance forms, which must include gospel, highlife and a song of the group.

The entire township is filled with the various colours of the groups and this has led to an increase in human and vehicular traffic. The heavy police presence aimed at directing traffic and controlling the groups to use only approved routes is not helping much. Briefing the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Mr Sam Nat Kwofie, a patron of Nyanta Boys said, being a member of the club required regular exercise, since the dance formation, jogging and running during the festival could last for almost eight hours. Mr Kwofie said the festival could be turned into an international tourist activity and advertised globally for patronage by both Ghanaians and tourist. Most roof tops, balconies, pavements were filled to capacity by persons eager to watch the performances