Our Konta sponsor site in northern Ghana is a Catholic organization which supports children from low-income families and children with special needs. At Christmastime, the community loves to have a special Mass, where they can offer prayers for “the Chalice family, the generous donors, the beneficiaries, the new converts at Kpongu and the community as a whole,” writes Nicholas, the sponsor site director. “We asked God to protect us against Covid-19 and bless us all in the coming New Year 2022.”
The Christmas party started after the Mass, where they enjoyed drinks, biscuits, and a meal among sponsored children, parents and the community members.
The Wa staff wanted to create an experience for the children where they could “embrace their culture” and so they arranged to visit the Sampaa Naa Palace, the home of the local chief. The Wa Naa oversees the Waala traditional council in the upper west region of Ghana.
The current chief, Naa Fusieni Seidu Pelpuo IV is the 34th chief of Wa. His palace grounds has both a family residence and a royal cemetery.
“The palace was design by the Sudanese and build by the Muslims community in Wa,” Nicholas describes, and they are very beautiful. “There are talking drums and animals skins preserved in the palace. The symbol of the Wa Chief is a lion (Jara), and there is a statue in the front courtyard.
“The children learn about the history of the inhabitants of Wa. After going rounds through the palace, they asked important questions,” writes Nicholas, and the Sampaa Na answered them himself.
The exciting day ended with a group picture taken with the Wa Naa, (Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelppuo IV) and his linguist right in front of the Sampaa.
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