The colour and splendour of the culture of northern Ghana were on full display on Monday at the campus of the University for Development Studies in Tamale where the freshly elected flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, officially accepted to lead the opposition party in the 2024 elections.
Many of the men at the event were clad in snow white smocks (fugu). Others came in very rich and colourful ones, complemented with traditional hats. There were those who also sported sharp and stylish caftans in various colours, mainly white.
The chiefs present at the event accentuated their royalty with their relatively bigger and flowing fugu apparels, with towels on one shoulder, completing their regal appearances with flamboyant traditional hats.
White lace dresses, kaba and slit as well as flowing cuts with matching headgears did “the fashion thing” for the women, many of whom had scarfs in NDC’s red, white, green and black colours around their necks or on one shoulder.
When the cultural troupe at the event got into action, and the drums began to roar and the melodious sounds of the flutes started wafting through the air, the man of the moment, former President Mahama, could not remain in his seat.
Clad in a white smock (fugu) and sporting a black and white Northern traditional hat, the NDC flag-bearer hit the floor, moving his body and feet to the rhythmic beats and sounds that filled the hall.
Shortly afterwards, Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, who was John Mahama’s Running-Mate in the 2020 presidential elections, joined the cultural troupe in a dance that attracted some members of the audience onto the dance floor, who literally sprayed the venerable Professor with cash and cheers.
Whether it was said in jest or as a matter of fact, the former Minority Leader in Parliament and Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, who also got the nod on Saturday to represent the constituency in the 2024 elections, stated that the former First Lady, Lordina Mahama was the one who requested for the cultural troupe, “knowing that her husband had practised his dance steps for the event to celebrate his victory at the primaries”.
Many observers commended former President Mahama and the leadership of the NDC for choosing to host the event in Tamale as it was in line with the national drive to promote domestic tourism as many party members travelled from far and near to witness the event in Tamale.
As former President Mahama celebrated his victory at the primaries, northern Ghana also celebrated its arts, culture and tourism as the scene at the event venue could be described simply as a kaleidoscope of northern traditional fashion, perfected by sweet sounds of traditional drumming and dancing.
By William Asiedu|3FM|3news.com|Ghana