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Regional News of Friday, 3 January 2014

Source: Divine Nkrumah

PPP storms Winneba Masquerade Festival 2014

Every 1st January of the New Year, the good people of Effutu land (Winneba) celebrate Masquerade festival popularly known as “Fancy Dress Dance”.

This year masquerade festival was witnessed by many dignitaries from near and far. Among the invited guest was Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, 2012 PPP Presidential candidate, honoured the chairman for the occasion. Due to locked schedules and hard work to redeem Ghanaians from hardship, high cost of living, jobless graduates and poverty has to delegate 2012 PPP Parliamentary Candidate for Effutu Constituency, Nana Ofori Owusu, to stand in on his behalf.

Among the dignitaries includes the Hon. Presiding Officer (Effutu Municipal Assembly), Hon. Alex Afenyo Markin (MP for Effutu), President of Culture (Central Region), Mr Samuel Ghanney (PPP Effutu Constituency Chairman), Mr. Enninful (Former PPP Effutu Constituency Chairman) and Mr Charles Rasmond Afedzie (PPP Effutu Constituency Secretary), Paapa Eshun (PPP Effutu Constituency Organizer) and others.

In Hon. Alex Afenyo’s New Year’s message said he has the people at his heart and he is doing all he can to bring development to them. He said apart from his personal educational fund at his office he has setup also education fund at the various churches in the municipality to assist brilliant but talented students to further their education both at SHS and tertiary levels. He added that currently he is given support to hairdressers and dressmakers in the form of hair driers and sewing machines to enable them earn a living. Those willing to learn the profession will be enrolled. Finally, Hon. Afenyo Markin urged all to unite and live peacefully as one people with common destiny. In Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom’s address read for him, he recognized the hard work of the good people of Effutu land as their contribution to the development of our mother Ghana. “Effutu people have beautiful culture that needs to be preserved, upgraded and branded to create jobs for the people especially the youth. Cultural festivals such as we are witnessing today brings people from far and near together. We are aware that festivals unite people, bring peace and peace brings development. Many promises have been made in time past but nothing much has been achieved because there are so many divisions among ourselves against development.

We, the people of Ghana, have the power to development, power to change, power to do anything that we want. Yes, we have our differences I accept that but I urge everybody, individually and as groups to put our nation first when it comes peace and development. The power given to our politicians has to be given back to us, the people, so we can be part of the development processes” he said. Nana added that the Effutu masquerade festival 2015 will be different from others witnessed. He said, he and Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom will support the Winneba Masquerade Federation (WMF) and the various groups to lift the Masque-Fest 2015 and it will be telecasted live, give educational support to talented but needed young dancers in the groups. He also advised that, WMF should assist the various groups to get their offices opened to enable them seek for better sponsorship. He also echoed that, the people of Winneba deserve better and sustainable development and jobs in the 2014. In his final statement, he pleaded with the current leadership and opinion leaders to unite for development for their sons and daughters because they deserve best. Dr. denoted a sum of GHS 4,200.00; GHS 900.00 to each of the four groups and GHS 600.00 to the WMF. He wished everybody prosperity in peace for 2014.