Teshie Traditional Council Awards Distinguished Personalities
40 distinguished GaDangmes have been honoured by the Teshie Maŋtsɛ, Gbɛtsɔɔlɔ Nii Ashietey Akomfra III for their immense contributions towards the development of Teshie and the nation as a whole.
The second award ceremony dubbed “Akrɔ Excellence Awards 2018” was aimed at encouraging the youth to be more passionate in contributing their quota to the progress of Teshie and Ghana as a whole.
The second awards night was also to honour hard working native trailblazers of international acclaim, who have kept the flag of Teshie and the GaDangme communities aloft in the comity of nations.
These trailblazers included both individuals and entities that have excelled in the Arts and Entertainment, Trade and Industry, Academic Orientation, Sports and Community Development. Other fields included Media Excellence, Senior Citizenship and the discretionary Akomfra Flagship Awards.
The awardees included a former Minister of State and the Chief of Agomeda, Nene Nagai Kassa VIII known in private life as Mike Gizo, the Tema Maŋtsɛ, Nii Adjei Kraku III, a boxing legend, D.K Poison, GaDangme legendary live stage performer, Ebenezer Lartey known as Ataa Mensah as well as the Public Relations Officer of Ghana Water Company Limited, Stanley Martey.
In his address , the Teshie Maŋtsɛ, Gbɛtɔɔlɔ Nii Ashietey Akomfra III, said the personalities involved in the second edition of the Akrɔ Excellence Awards did not only contribute in the development of the GaDangme state but also projected the image of Africa.
He admitted that a backlash of cross-cultural problems, their identity as GaDangmes is being swallowed up by the cultures and traditions of the emigrant communities living among them has resulted in the lost control over their lands.
Nii Teshie added that they have also lost control over the languages expressing fear of losing control over their cultural heritage.
He therefore asked traditional leaders in the GaDangme state to devise innovative means to address the critical challenge of the GaDangmes existence as one people with one common destiny.
A former Minister of State and the Chief of Agomeda, Nene Nagai Kassa VIII known in private life as Mike Gizo, expressed appreciation to the Chief and people of Teshie for instituting such awards to honour people for their contributions towards the development of the country.
He stated that there is the need to acknowledge and honour our heroes saying a nation that does not honour its heroes is not worth dying for.
Nene Nagai Kassa VIII called on the leadership of the Teshie Tradional Council to share their rich experience to empower the youth to take up the mantle of leadership.
He also urged the people of Teshie to sustaine the peace and stability in the community.
Other awardee’s for the night included Ben Ayiku as the best business man of the year, Esther Dede Bonney as the best Ga student at the SHS level whiles Emmanuella Atwei Adjetey as the best Ga student at the JHS level.
Community development activist and media personnel were also awarded.
Story by Paul Mamattah.