Nana Animah b. Framo (M) flanked by chiefs and executioners
The chiefs and people of Banka in the Asante-Akyem South District of the Ashanti Region have celebrated the Banka Bekae Festival in grand style.
The festival, which was held on February 21, 2025, was to remember the ancestors of Banka, show gratitude to them for giving the people of Banka an identity and heritage, and also to solicit their help for prosperity and development.
This year’s Banka Bekae Festival was on the theme, “Challenges Inherent in Western Democratic Dispensation as Practiced in Ghana.”
Speaking to the gathering, the Queenmother and regent of Banka (Bankahemma), Nana Anima b. Framo, described western democracy as practiced in Ghana since 1994 as conflict-ridden, divisive, costly and one that offers little dividend.
“At every level of the democratic practice be it primary, presidential, district assemblies and even Council of State, there is violence,” she stated.
According to her, the multi-party nature of western democracy, to a large extent, does not allow social cohesion and social progress, which are essential parts of national development.
“Western Democracy as practiced since the 4th Republic has not helped Ghana, and to a large degree, Africa, to mobilise her natural resources to benefit Africans. It is time to consider “Africa First” and probably a total de-linkage from the West,” she asserted.
The Banka Bekae Festival, she indicated, is a reminder of Ephraim Amu’s ‘Yen ara yen Asaase ni’ to wit, ‘This is our own land which must be protected by all.’
Nana Anima b. Framo, who is a lecturer at Knutsford University College, Accra, also noted that the festival coincides with the first anniversary of the formation of Asante-Akyem Women in Agriculture, of which she is the patron.
The Queenmother, who is known in private life as Nana Amma Ampofoa Twumasi, holds a Master of Philosophy in Political Science from the University of Ghana, Legon.
On her part, the Krontihene of Banka, Nana Ohu- Atrene Acheampong, delivered a thought-provoking address on the implications of democracy for marriage and family institutions in Ghana.
Her remarks have sparked significant conversation about the evolving dynamics within Ghanaian society, which is the rising level of divorce rates attributed to the difficulties couples face in navigating their relationships amidst changing societal expectations.
Nana Ohu-Atrene Acheampong, also emphasised the crucial role of elders in mediating disputes within families, lamenting their absence in modern nuclear family.
“Without the guidance of elders, couples often find themselves ill-equipped to resolve conflicts, leading to misunderstandings and ultimately higher divorce rates,” she explained.
The Banka Bekae Festival is held annually in February, and it involves cleansing and the performance of rites in more than ten water bodies.
FROM David Afum, Banka