The week-long celebration of the Ngmayem Festival by the chiefs and people of Manya Jorpanya in the Shai State is underway at the Manya Jorpanya Community Centre in the Greater Accra Region.
The Manya Jorpanya Ngmayem Festival is an important traditional celebration that brings together chiefs, elders, residents and descendants of the community to celebrate their heritage and strengthen communal bonds.
The celebration forms part of the broader cultural tradition of Ngmayem, a harvest festival associated with Dangme communities and particularly prominent among the Shai people. In Manya Jorpanya, the festival has evolved into an important expression of the community’s cultural heritage and traditional identity.
Beyond celebrating the harvest, Ngmayem provides an opportunity to preserve cultural heritage, promote unity, reconnect residents with their ancestral traditions, educate younger generations and mobilise support for the development of the community.
Speaking during the Remembrance Day celebration at the Manya Jorpanya Community Centre on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, the Chief of Manya Jorpanya and Senior Asafoatse of the Shai Traditional Area, Nene Dr Tei-Djahene Korabo IV, underscored the importance of remembering the forebears whose sacrifices contributed to the establishment and development of the community.
He said remembering the sacrifices of previous generations should inspire the current generation to protect the community’s heritage while working collectively towards its future development.
Nene Dr Tei-Djahene Korabo IV also emphasised the importance of unity and cooperation among the people of Manya Jorpanya, urging residents to work together to advance the development of the community and build a brighter future for generations to come.
The week-long festival continues with a series of activities, including health screening and a visit to the Shai Hills, where the ancestors of the people once lived.
The celebrations are expected to bring together traditional leaders, residents, families and visitors as Manya Jorpanya honours its past, celebrates its cultural identity and reflects on the future development of the community.
