Nadowli-Kaleo DCE Joins Wa to Mark 2025 Dumba Festival, Calls for Peace, Unity, and Development

The 2025 Dumba Festival in Wa was celebrated with splendour, attracting government officials, traditional leaders, and community members from far and near. The District Chief Executive (DCE) of Nadowli-Kaleo and other state officials joined the people of the Wa Traditional Area to mark the annual cultural event, which remains one of the most significant occasions on the Waala traditional calendar.

The festival, which is deeply rooted in the history and customs of the Waala people, continues to serve as a platform for preserving cultural heritage, uniting communities, and promoting peace and development. This year’s celebration came at a crucial time, as political tensions threaten national stability. Leaders at the festival underscored the importance of using such cultural occasions to ease political friction and foster coexistence among citizens.

The Guest of Honour, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament, commended the Wa Naa and his elders for upholding the tradition and using it as a rallying point for peace and unity. In his address, the Speaker urged the people to “see themselves as one” to bring development to the region. He stressed that festivals such as Dumba were moments of joy and celebration and opportunities for reconciliation and social cohesion. He further cautioned against chieftaincy disputes, warning that they were undermining the government’s development agenda and delaying much-needed progress in affected communities.

The Wa Naa, in his remarks, also used the occasion to call for an end to drug abuse in the area, citing its negative impact on the youth and the future of the community. He appealed to families, leaders, and institutions to intensify education and support systems to curb the menace.

Other dignitaries at the event, including Hon. Rashid Pelpuo, Minister for Labour and MP for Wa Central, described the Dumba Festival as a moment of pride and belonging for the Waala people. He stressed that holding onto tradition and celebrating cultural identity defines who the people are and strengthens their resolve to confront modern challenges.

The celebration also drew support from corporate bodies. Majesty Galaxy Ghana Limited made a sponsorship donation to the Wa Naa’s Palace to support the 2025 edition of the festival, affirming its commitment to promoting cultural values, youth empowerment, and community development in the region.

This year’s Dumba Festival served as a reminder that culture is not only about remembering the past but also about shaping the future. By uniting communities, diffusing political tensions, and attracting attention to development challenges, festivals like Dumba have proven to be vital tools for building national cohesion. Leaders called on the government, state institutions, and the general public to continue supporting such cultural activities, not merely for tourism, but as mechanisms for peace, trust-building, and progress.

As the celebrations ended in Wa, the message was clear: unity, cultural pride, and peaceful coexistence remain the surest paths to development. The Speaker’s call for togetherness and his caution against destructive disputes echoed strongly across the gathering. For the Waala people, Dumba 2025 reaffirmed that cultural heritage, when nurtured and celebrated, can serve as a powerful engine for peace and shared growth.

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