The Bongo Traditional Council on Saturday, November 29, 2025, celebrated this year’s Azambene Fire Festival with a grand durbar, reaffirming the cultural heritage and unity of the Bongo Traditional Area.
The Azambene Festival, observed annually, commemorates the victory, inheritance, and establishment of present-day Bongo by the Busasis, the original custodians of the land. Speaking at the celebration, the Paramount Chief of the Bongo Traditional Area, Bonaba Baba Salifu Atamale Lemyaarum, said the festival remains vital to the area’s development because it brings the people together to initiate and support community projects.
This year’s durbar, held at Abongo near the Post Office, also featured the launch of a WASH Fund initiative aimed at ending open defecation and tackling water challenges in the district by the end of 2026. The fund will support the provision of sanitation facilities, particularly toilets, for households unable to afford them.
Bonaba Atamale Lemyaarum appealed to WaterAid Ghana, political leaders and development partners to support the district’s efforts to improve access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene, and to help address the district’s high fluoride levels.
During the celebration, the Country Director of WaterAid Ghana, Ewurabena Yanyi Akofur, was installed as Development Queen Mother of the Bongo Traditional Area with the skin name Kosom Pognaba (Queen Mother of Potable Water). She was honoured for her leadership in implementing WaterAid’s strategic plan, including efforts to redirect treated water from the Vea Dam to Bongo.
Ms. Lee Eun Mi, Managing Director of Divine World Mission—now known by her naturalised name Awinbono Salifu—was also installed as Tinsongre Pognaba (Queen Mother of Community Development) for her work in empowering women and girls.
District Chief Executive Joseph Akasake Abaah thanked the Paramount Chief for his commitment to development and outlined ongoing projects, including a CHPS compound at Bongo-Soe (Asologo), a KG block at Zorko, a six-classroom block at Apaatanga and the Bongo District Assembly Conference Centre. He said the Assembly is working to improve water, sanitation, education, agriculture, healthcare and markets across the district.
Member of Parliament for Bongo, Lawyer Charles Bawa Duah, commended the Paramount Chief for championing the fight against open defecation through the establishment of the WASH Fund, describing it as “a beacon of hope” for resolving sanitation challenges.
Upper East Regional Minister Donatus Akamuguri Atanga expressed gratitude to the Paramount Chief and reaffirmed the government’s readiness to support development in the Bongo District.
Source: A1 Radio | 101.1Mhz | Moses Anaba Azubire | Bongo
