The Igbo Community in Ghana is set to celebrate a major milestone – 12 years of the Igbo throne in Ghana – with a grand Igbo Yam festival on September 15, 2024, at the Efua Sutherland Park.
His Royal Majesty Eze (Dr) Ambassador Chukwudi Jude Ihenetu, Eze Ohazurume 1, Eze Ndi Igbo GhanaHis Royal Majesty Eze (Dr) Ambassador Chukwudi Jude Ihenetu, Eze Ohazurume 1, Eze Ndi Igbo Ghana, has invited all Igbos, Nigerians, and Ghanaians to join in the celebration.
In an exclusive interview with Republic Press, HRM Dr. Amb. Ihenetu explained that the new yam festival is an important tradition in the Ogidi community, marking the beginning and end of the farming season.
“It is a celebration of life, accomplishments in the community, culture, and well-being. We come together to thank God for the farming season and invoke his blessings on the new season.”
The festival promises to be a spectacular event, with beautifully arrayed tubers of yam, traditional dance, and music from different genres. The atmosphere at the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park will be ecstatic, with celebrants dressed in fine and beautiful clothes, moving to percussion, wind, brass, and woodwind instruments, amid the firing of musketry.
“It will be a royal celebration, and royalty from parts of Ghana and elsewhere in West Africa, political, and religious figures are expected to be present,” EZE One said.
HRM Dr. Amb. Ihenetu also used the opportunity to urge Igbos and other Nigerians resident in Ghana to continue to be law-abiding and to register for the ongoing national identification exercise in Ghana for easy identification.
He stressed the importance of teaching younger generations African values and culture and hinted at plans to establish Igbo schools in Ghana.
The Paramount King also warned Nigerians in Ghana that anyone involved in illegal activities will not be shielded when arrested.
“If you are a Nigerian and you engage in drug trafficking or not law-abiding and government arrests you, we will support the government to ensure you go to jail. We will not be here and allow you to destroy a great nation like Ghana,” he said.
Speaking on the EzeIgbo Foundation, HRM Dr. Amb. Ihenetu explained that the foundation’s mission is to provide multi-dimensional support to orphans and the highly vulnerable in society. The foundation seeks to achieve this through the provision of financial, educational, medical, psychosocial, and spiritual support to enable children and young people to realize their God-given potential.
The EzeIgbo Foundation has already made significant contributions to the community, including building toilets, and boreholes, and supporting girls in villages with essential items. HRM Dr. Amb. Ihenetu also hinted that the foundation is acquiring its own borehole machine to drill more boreholes in Ghana, providing access to quality water for communities and villages.
Reflecting on his 12 years of leading the Igbo community in Ghana, HRM Dr. Amb. Ihenetu expressed gratitude and humility. “By the grace of God, I have been privileged to serve my people, promoting peace, unity, and progress among our community and with the host nation. We have worked tirelessly to address various challenges, including disputes, crimes, and misunderstandings. We have also promoted Igbo culture, traditions, and values, ensuring that our sons and daughters born in Ghana can connect with their heritage.”
The Igbo community’s achievements under HRM Dr. Amb. Ihenetu’s leadership include promoting peace and unity, encouraging entrepreneurship and business development, supporting education and skills training, providing humanitarian aid, and celebrating Igbo culture and traditions through the annual Igbo Yam festival.
Join the Igbo community on September 15, 2024, at the Efua Sutherland Park for a memorable Igbo Yam festival, celebrating culture, traditions, and unity.
