By
George-Ramsey Benamba, GNA
Kumasi, July 8, GNA – Members of the Bassare
Youth Association (BAYA) as part of their membership drive agenda have embarked
on series of Zonal meetings that will outline their development agenda towards
their hometown and youth.
The first of the meetings was held in Accra in
February and attracted a lot of Bassares from the Greater Accra and other
Regions, while the second one was held in Kumasi in the first week of July with
a huge attendance to the bewilderment of all.
On both Occasions, Patrons and Executives of
the Association took turns to address the enthusiastic crowds that had pledged
to forge ahead to ensure that the next generations of the Bassares would play
leading roles in the country’s education, economy, health, environment,
Agriculture, ICT and all other development programmes.
At Kumasi, Bassares from all the districts and
branches all over the Ashanti Region were adequately represented with the
enthusiastic feeling of belonging and respect to contribute their quota towards
the development of the Association and its people.
It was coloured and climaxed by the glamourous
attendance of Bassare Chiefs drawn out from all the districts and communities
of the Ashanti region, making the National Cultural Centre, a makeshift citadel
of Bassares at least for five hours.
The Occasion also served as a re-union for
Bassares who had not seen each other for years to also once again meet and
recount some of their nostalgic moments, especially during their school and
youthful days.
Addressing the meeting, Alhaji Moro Seidu,
National President of BAYA called on all Bassares in the country and beyond to
lend a helping hand to the development of the youth and to support
infrastructure in their capital-Tatale and other Cities that Bassares were
residing in.
He appealed to parents to give traditional
Bassare names to their children to serve as an identification for them,
anywhere they found themselves.
“Our names are our identity, and some of you
may have your Christian and Muslim names, but I urge you to use prominent
Bassare names that will identify us as a people, wherever we find ourselves.
“In the on-going World Cup tournament, many
players are identified by their names and countries and we need to let
Ghanaians and beyond know where we come from through our name identity.”
He said Bassares had over the years conducted
themselves very well among other ethnic groups, hence gaining adequate
admiration for their humility and courteous behaviour and called on the youth
to emulate the shinning values of their elders in their areas of jurisdiction.
Mr Toni Bakawu, National General Secretary of
BAYA called for unity among tribesmen and women and urged them to frequently
contribute their quota towards nation-building and their hometowns.
He said the Association would carry out
various Zonal Meetings in all the Regions of the Country and urged those who
could not make it to Kumasi to support the organisation of similar meetings in
their regions.
Mr Dominic Napare, Member of Parliament for
Sene East, who is also one of the Patrons of the Association appealed to
Bassare parents to spend a chunk of their earnings on the education of their
children rather than frivolous funerals and other social celebrations.
He urged them to conduct themselves well by
bringing out the good values of respect, humility and honesty that had over the
years become synonymous with Bassares.
The MP also urged them to help fight against
early child marriage as the practice could be detrimental to the education of
children especially girls.
Mr Stephen Balado Manu, Former Member of
Parliament for Ahafo-Ano South in the Ashanti Region commended the organisers
for the wonderful gathering of Bassares.
He encouraged them to interact frequently in
order to promote marriages among themselves and know their traditions and
cultures better.
Mr Louis Wadja, Bekwai Municipal Director of
Education launched the National Identity Cards of the BAYA.
The meeting was intermittently spiced up with
drumming and dancing of various Bassare dances.
GNA