Story By: Nii Okpoti Odamtten & Muhammed Faisal Mustapha…
The Builsa community in Ghana’s capital has staged a vibrant cultural reception in honour of the Paramount Chief of the Builsa Traditional Area, Nab Ayieta Azantinlow Azagsuk II, celebrating unity, identity and the enduring bonds between home and diaspora.
Held in Accra, the colourful gathering blended traditional music, dance and communal reflection, underscoring the growing significance of diaspora communities in preserving cultural heritage while contributing to national development.
Organised jointly by the Bulukbisa Club, the Builsa Ladies Association, and community heads of Builsa groups in Accra, the reception drew traditional leaders, professionals, youth and political figures from the Builsa enclave.
Among the dignitaries in attendance were Builsa North MP James Agalga and Deputy Minister of Education and Builsa South MP Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, who joined chiefs, elders and community members to honour the Paramount Chief’s visit.
The Paramount Chief was accompanied by five eminent chiefs, including Wiaga Nab Chuchuluga, Nab Kanjak, Nab Gbedema and Nab Uwasa, lending strong traditional authority and symbolism to the occasion.
The reception also served as a platform to discuss pressing issues affecting Builsa residents in Accra and to explore broader development challenges confronting the Builsa people nationwide.
Speaking on behalf of the Paramount Chief, His Worship Seth Aduedem Alafa (Rtd.), Chairman of the Bulukbisa Club, explained that the event was convened after the community learned of the Chief’s visit to Accra for engagements with the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs.
“We felt it was important to organise and have time with our Overlord to listen to his wise words.”
Mr. Alafa noted that the reception’s vibrant cultural display reflected northern traditions of celebration, solidarity and shared identity.
A key issue raised during the gathering was the absence of a recognised Builsa chief in Accra a gap community leaders say has created challenges in coordination, representation and mobilisation.
According to Mr. Alafa, the Paramount Chief welcomed the concerns and encouraged formal steps toward establishing recognised leadership in the capital.
“The community should formally engage the Builsa Traditional Council and seek the consent of the Ga Mantse to enable the enskinment of a Builsa chief in Accra.”
The proposal highlights the delicate but essential collaboration between migrant communities and host traditional authorities in Ghana’s capital.
Nab Azagsuk II used the occasion to urge Builsa residents in Accra to remain united and supportive of one another despite living far from their ancestral home.
He emphasised the importance of maintaining strong cultural ties while pursuing personal and professional advancement in the city.
“Do not forget your roots. Remember and support Builsa land even as you build your lives in Accra.”
The Paramount Chief also encouraged the community to embrace their heritage openly and proudly, cautioning against distancing oneself from cultural identity.
Drawing on historical examples including the ancestry of Ghana’s first Chief Justice he stressed that acknowledging one’s origins is a source of strength rather than limitation.
The Paramount Chief expressed gratitude for the warm reception and reaffirmed his commitment to fostering unity and development among the Builsa people both at home and in the diaspora.
The event concluded with renewed pledges of cooperation, cultural preservation and collective progress signalling a strengthened bridge between the Builsa homeland and its vibrant community in Accra.
