On Saturday, Dr. Deborah Rose — known within the Nkusukum Traditional Area as Nana Abena Nyansima — together with members of her team, paid homage to Nana Okese Essandoh IX, Paramount Chief of the Nkusukum Traditional Area, as part of this year’s Odambea Festival celebrations.

Later in the day, the delegation joined the Grand Durbar of the Odambea Festival in Saltpond, a colorful and historic event that celebrates the migration, heritage, and unity of the Nkusukum people.

Dr. Rose, President of the Helping Africa Foundation and Board Member and Treasurer of the W.E.B. Du Bois Museum Foundation, was given the honor of riding in the Palanquin Procession — a symbolic cultural gesture reserved for distinguished guests and traditional leaders. The gesture reflected deep mutual respect and acknowledged her enduring partnership with the Nkusukum Traditional Council in advancing education and community development.

Accompanying Dr. Rose were Mr. Japhet Aryiku, Executive Director of both the Helping Africa Foundation and the W.E.B. Du Bois Museum Foundation; Dr. Kofi Boateng, Chief Financial Officer of the W.E.B. Du Bois Museum Foundation; and Mr. Jonathan Wiesner, Deputy Executive Director of the Helping Africa Foundation.

On Sunday, Dr. Rose and her team met with Nana Okese Essandoh IX and members of the traditional council to discuss ongoing developmental projects within the municipality.

As part of the engagement, the Paramount Chief led the team on a tour of the construction site for a new Meeting Hall for Chiefs, designed to serve as a dedicated space for leadership dialogue, conflict resolution, and community decision-making.

Dr. Rose commended the chief and his council for their foresight and reaffirmed her commitment, through the Helping Africa Foundation, to continue supporting initiatives that strengthen leadership structures and promote sustainable local governance.

The weekend’s activities concluded with a Thanksgiving ceremony, where chiefs, elders, and community members gathered to celebrate unity, peace, and shared purpose. The event highlighted the rich cultural identity of the Nkusukum people while honoring partnerships that bridge Ghanaian tradition with international collaboration.

Dr. Rose’s participation in the Odambea Festival and subsequent engagements in Nkusukum reaffirm the ongoing collaboration between Ghana’s traditional authorities and global development partners. Through her leadership, the Helping Africa Foundation and the W.E.B. Du Bois Museum Foundation continue to advance educational and community initiatives that celebrate culture while driving meaningful social progress.