Paramount chiefs in the Nzema area are set to host a local food bazaar in Accra on Tuesday, March 10, as part of this year’s Heritage Month celebrations and in honour of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President.
The event, to be hosted by media personality Yaa Titi of Class Television (CTV), will showcase a wide array of traditional Nzema dishes, including akyeke, atuku or mgbokpole (cassava dough meal), akonde (fufu), alabo (cooked cocoyam with soup and fish), kokonte, fonvonwu (pounded maize), bankye akposi (cooked cassava), and awulebolo (roasted rice).
The bazaar is jointly sponsored by Awulae Dr Attibrukusu III, Paramount Chief of the Lower Axim Traditional Area, and Awulae Kwaw Armah III, Paramount Chief of the Upper Axim Traditional Area.
Awulae Armah III said the initiative aims to honour Dr Nkrumah as an Nzema while highlighting the traditional foods he enjoyed during his lifetime. He also encouraged traditional leaders to foster pride in cultural heritage and ensure its preservation for future generations.
Awulae Attibrukusu III urged parents to instil in their children a love for local cuisine, maintain proper dressing, and show respect to elders. He also called on chiefs in the Nzema area to set aside differences and unite for the socio-economic development of the region.
Welcoming the initiative, Awulae Agyefi Kwame II, Paramount Chief of the Nsein Traditional Area, highlighted that the Nsein Traditional Council observes Heritage Month annually and has, since 2022, dedicated the last Saturday of every month for clans to prepare their unique dishes as a showcase of Nzema culinary traditions.
Awulae Kwasi Armakyi III emphasized that the effort is part of a broader strategy to preserve indigenous foods. He proposed the creation of community-based central kitchens to prepare traditional meals in their natural form, promoting cultural tourism and boosting the local economy.
The food bazaar promises to be a vibrant celebration of Nzema heritage, combining culinary artistry with cultural pride while honouring one of Ghana’s most iconic leaders.
