The Education Director of Birim Central Municipal, Mrs. Gloria Aggrey, has revealed that inadequate funds have been the major obstacle to organizing cultural festivals for basic schools in the municipality.
She disclosed that the municipality hasn’t held an event of this nature for nearly seven (7) years.
According to her, the capitation grant, which is the only fund supporting cultural festivals and sports activities, is insufficient.
Mrs. Aggrey has therefore called on the government to increase funding to enable the event to be held frequently.
The call was made during the 2025 Birim Central Municipal Basic Schools Arts and Cultural Festival, held at Oda Methodist Conference Hall on July 9, 2025.
The program features various activities, including drum language, poem recitation, sight singing, storytelling, drama, choral music, still life drawing, construction & assemblage, cook art (local dish making), and sewing.
She also applauded the performance of pupils who participated in the festival and urged them to nurture their talents.
As a result, Mrs. Aggrey underlined the need to educate children about the nation’s stunning culture, emphasizing how it fosters cultural identity, values, and customs while also enhancing their self-esteem and inventiveness.
The Birim Central Municipal Cultural Coordinator, Mr. Ransford Anamoah, also known as Ekow Marvel, highlighted the challenges faced in organizing the event, including financing and sourcing cultural instruments and costumes.
He called on the Municipal Assembly to approve a budget to support the cultural festival, emphasizing the importance of financial support in sustaining such initiatives.
He encouraged parents to honor invitations to such school activities to support their children.
According to him, the presence of parents or guidance counselors at school events like festivals and athletics helps to increase the confidence of the pupils who partake.
The Ghana Basic Schools Cultural Festival is a program under the Ghana Education Service aimed at showcasing cultural norms and values.
The Birim Central Municipality was grouped into two circuits (B and D & A and C), according to Mr. Ransford.
He noted that after the Circuit Festival, the top arts and culture schools proceeded to the Municipal Arts and Cultural Festival, which has just ended.
On July 31, 2025, he said, the victors will represent the Birim Central Municipality in the Oda zone in Akyem Manso.
This is the last competition to determine which school will represent the Oda zone at the regional level in August.
