March 9, 2026, As part of this year’s celebration of Heritage Month, Paramount Chiefs in the Western, Gwira and other traditional areas are showcasing the rich Nzema culture through local food delicacies in honour of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, a son of the Nzema soil and the first Prime Minister and President of the Republic of Ghana.
The traditional rulers are also showcasing special Nzema dishes that Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah enjoyed most during his lifetime.The event will be hosted by Yaa Titi, a popular media personality on Class Television (CTV), on Tuesday, March 10, in Accra.Some of the local dishes that will be on display include akyekɛ, atuku or mgbokpolɛ (made of cassava dough), akonde (fufu), alabo (cooked cocoyam with soup and fish), kokonte (dried powdered cassava), fonvonwu (pounded milled maize), bankye akposi (cooked cassava) and awulebolo (roasted rice).The event is jointly sponsored by Awulae Dr. Attibrukusu III, Paramount Chief of the Lower Axim Traditional Area, and Awulae Kwaw Armah III, Paramount Chief of the Upper Axim Traditional Area.
Awulae Kwasi Armakyi III the Paramount Chief of the Western Nzema Traditional Area said indigenous foods such as “awule bolo” and “mgbokpolɛ” can only be prepared on the hearth (mokyea) with firewood and not on gas cylinders.To preserve and protect indigenous food, the Paramount Chief called for the establishment of specialised kitchens within communities where local dishes can be prepared using traditional methods to maintain their natural taste and promote tourism. Awulae Kwaw Armah III, Paramount Chief of the Upper Axim Traditional Area, said the event is also aimed at identifying Dr. Kwame Nkrumah as an Nzema and highlighting the local dishes he ate before and during his presidency. He urged traditional rulers to inculcate in their subjects a sense of pride in portraying their culture and identity for the current and future generations to emulate. Awulae Kwaw Armah III added that the Nzema Maanle Council would meet to discuss the way forward for preserving Nzema culture and identity.
For his part, Awulae Attibrukusu III, Paramount Chief of the Lower Axim Traditional Area, highlighted a wide range of indigenous Nzema foods passed down to them by their ancestors, noting that they are healthy and medicinal. He advised parents to educate their children to develop a strong taste for their indigenous dishes, dress properly, and treat the elderly with respect. Awulae Attibrukusu III also advised Paramount Chiefs and other traditional rulers in the Nzema area to set aside their differences and unite to spearhead the rapid socio-economic development of the area. For his part, Awulae Agyefi Kwame II, Paramount Chief of the Nsein Traditional Area, welcomed the initiative and said the Nsein Traditional Council had already been marking Heritage Month every year. He said that since 2022, the Traditional Council had chosen the last Saturday of Heritage Month to bring each clan in the area together to cook their special dishes and showcase indigenous Nzema food delicacies to the world.
By Nzema Today
