Effutu launches 2016 Aboakyer Festival
The Chiefs and people of Effutu Traditional Area would celebrate this year’s Aboakyer Festival from May 2 to 7.
Nana Kojo Beedu, the Chairman of the Aboakyer Board, who announced the date at the launch of the Festival, also outlined activities planned for the event.
They include: a Tug of war, Competition for Miss Aboakyer and regatta.
Nana Beedu, who is also Odikro of Kojo Beedu in Winneba, said the festival would be climaxed on Saturday, May 7, with a durbar of Chiefs and people as well as the visitors to the event.
On the dawn of that day, the two Asafo companies-Dentsifo and Tuafo – would go to the bush in a contest to capture live deer first, he said.
He said six sub-committees had been formed to ensure the successful celebration of the festival
They are Finance, Protocol, Security, Sanitation, Tradition and Culture and Entertainment.
Nana Beedu said the first animal to be brought at the durbar grounds by any of the Asafo companies would be used to perform traditional rites towards the growth and development of the traditional area.
He appealed to the corporate bodies and companies who wanted to sponsor the festival to deal directly only with the Aboakyer Board.
Nana Armah-Sekum , the Obaatan of Tuafo Asafo Company, expressed concern that the areas where the Asafo Companies hunted for the animals were being cleared by estate developers and said the situation could affect the celebration of the festival in future.
He, therefore, appealed to the Forestry Department, Effutu Municipal Assembly and landowners to stop the encroachment.
“The people have decided to celebrate the festival peaceful without heavy Police presence, therefore, I appeal to everybody in the area to contribute towards the peace in the area,” he said.
Nana Armah-Sekum said the huge sums of money spent on security during the celebration of the festival could be channeled to other developmental needs in the area.
Present were the Asafo Company leaders and other major stakeholders in the celebration of the Festival.
Mr Gyan Ghunney, a prominent citizen of Winneba, who chaired the function, called for unity, peace and understanding among the people to enhance development .
Source: GNA