as an acknowledgment to parents for raising their daughters well. In the last couples of decades, the female gender roles have evolved tremendously. Ghanaian women now account for 43.1% of the working class in Ghana. Females have climbed to the upper leadership echelons of politics, career, business, and all other sectors. Notable political personalities include Joyce Bamford-Addo (Speaker of the 5th Session of the Parliament), Georgina Theodora Wood (Chief Justice) as well as multiple past and current political office holders. Festival The Akwasidae Festival (alternate, Akwasiadae) is celebrated by the Ashanti people and chiefs in Ashanti,as well as the Ashanti diaspora. The festival is celebrated on a Sunday, once every six weeks. The Panafest celebrates roots, and African-Americans with roots from the region, often visit and celebrate their heritage. Ashanti Yam Festival is observed for five days starting with a Tuesday, as dictated by the local chief priest. It marks the first harvest of yams during autumn, subsequent to the monsoon season. This festival has both religious and economic significance. Religiously, the festival is used to thank the gods and the ancestors for the new harvest and to traditionally outdoor the new yam. The Damba festival is celebrated by the people of Dagbon and other ethnic groups in Ghana. During this festival, there is colourful and vibrant display of the Ghanaian Smock and other traditional dresses. Also, the Fire festival is celebrated during first month of the Dagomba lunar calendar. This festival takes place at night, and involve fire procession and drumming and dancing to war songs. When the first yam tubers are harvested, the people of Dagbon mark a ceremony to declare the opening of the yam season. Music There are three distinct types of music: ethnic or traditional music, normally played during festivals and at funerals; "highlife" music, which is a blend of traditional and ‘imported’ music; and choral music, which is performed in concert halls, churches, schools, and colleges.° Dance Each ethnic group has their own traditional dances, with specific dances for different occasions. Some of these specific dances are meant for funerals, celebrations, storytelling, praise and worship. There are various dances in Ghana performed by the ten regions across the country, most frequently during festivals and occasions such as funerals, marriage ceremonies, etc. These dances are performed to entertain and educate people.( e.g. The 'Gome' dance, as performed by the Gas of the Greater Accra region