The Member of Parliament for Jomoro and Deputy Minister of Transport, Dorcas Affo-Toffey, has joined chiefs, elders and members of the Nzema community in Bassam, Côte d’Ivoire, to celebrate the Abisa Festival, also known as Kundum.
The celebration highlighted the rich cultural heritage and shared identity of the Nzema people, bringing together traditional leaders and community members to honour their ancestral roots, customs and traditions while strengthening cultural ties between Nzema communities in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.
In a statement following her participation in the festival, the Jomoro MP described the occasion as an important opportunity to reconnect with the people, celebrate their shared heritage and appreciate the cultural values that unite the Nzema community across national borders.
A major highlight of the celebration was the presence of His Majesty Awoulae Amon Tanoe, King of the Nzima Kotoko of Côte d’Ivoire and President of the National Chamber of Kings and Traditional Chiefs.
Madam Affo-Toffey’s participation also underscored the importance of traditional leadership in preserving cultural identity and promoting unity among communities with shared historical and ancestral connections.
She noted that, as the MP for Jomoro, she recognised her responsibility to support initiatives that safeguard the customs and traditions of the Nzema people and ensure that their cultural values are passed on to younger generations.
According to her, preserving traditional institutions and promoting cultural heritage are essential to strengthening community identity, fostering peaceful coexistence and supporting development.
She further emphasised that the cultural relationship between the Nzema people in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire represents a shared heritage that must be nurtured through cooperation, mutual respect and sustained engagement.
The Abisa, or Kundum, celebration served as a reminder of the historical roots, cultural identity and longstanding connections that bind the Nzema people together, irrespective of geographical and political boundaries.
The Deputy Transport Minister reaffirmed her commitment to supporting initiatives aimed at promoting cultural preservation, unity, peace and development within Nzema communities.
The celebration in Bassam provided an opportunity not only to honour ancestral traditions but also to strengthen the bonds of kinship and cultural solidarity between the Nzema people of Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.
By 1960news.com
