No Deer At Aboakyer Festival

THOUSANDS of people from all walks of life, including tourists, on Saturday joined the people of Winneba in the Effutu Traditional Area of the Central Region to celebrate their annual Aboakyer Festival in style, contrary to speculations that the celebration might generate violence.

Unfortunately, the celebration was without the usual fanfare associated with the festivities, as neither of the two Asafo groups could land a catch of a live antelope for purification, which is symbolic of a successful farming year.

By 5.30 a.m., sounds of trumpets could be heard at the chief’s palace to herald the beginning of the festivities, dubbed “The Millennium Aboakyer”.

There was heavy security presence to forestall any disturbances from a faction in the town which was against the celebrations and which had threatened to disrupt it.

At exactly 6 a.m., the two Asafo groups, the Dentsifo Number Two and Tuafo Number One, clad in their colourful traditional attire of red and orange, and white, black and blue respectively, set off into the wild, wielding sticks, tree branches, among others, to search for a catch.

After a couple of hours, the AME Zion School compound, the grounds for a grand durbar of chiefs, was set, with the Omanhen of the area, Neenyi Ghartey VII, dressed in rich, white kente cloth, flanked by heavily armed policemen and accompanied by a large retinue of sub chiefs and elders, arrived at the durbar grounds, about 700 metres away from the palace.

The durbar was the first time in four years and the crowd was tight and absorbing.

By 9 am, all was set for the celebration, with the arrival of the Central Regional Minister, Mr Isaac Edumadze, and his entourage who, upon arrival, exchanged pleasantries with the Omanhen and his sub-chiefs while a cultural troupe from the town drummed and danced to entertain the teeming crowd.

Barely four hours after the Omanhen and his guests had sat in state awaiting the catch from either of the two groups, the Tuafo arrived first, followed by the Dentsifo, at the durbar grounds only to inform the Omanhen of their inability to get a catch for sacrifice to the gods.

In the absence of rituals which are normally performed with the catch from either of the two Asafo groups, the Omanhen left the grounds in disappointment to prepare for the next stage of the festivities, the procession.

Under the customs of the Effutu people, the catch is brought to the durbar grounds where the Omanhen is expected to step on it three times, after which it is tied and sent to the Penkye Otu Shrine for purification rites.

When the Omanhen appeared again in public, he was seen riding in a palanquin, amidst fanfare and merry-making. Tourists who could not stand idle followed, cheered and danced cheerfully to the tune of traditional songs and appellations.

Earlier, before the arrival of the Asafo groups from the bush, the Omanhen had delivered his welcoming address, during which he called on the people to use the occasion to live in harmony and work towards the development of the area in unity and peace to enable the traditional area regain its lost glory and respect.

He appealed to the government to protect the area where the two Asafo companies normally go for their catch since the area is fast being degraded, thus sending the animals far into the wild.

Neenyi Ghartey also called on the government to rehabilitate the road from Accra to the town, construct a bigger hospital and check the encroachment on Winneba lands.

He said most of the houses in the area have been rented out to students of the University College of Education and called on estate developers to provide housing facilities for the students.

Mr Edumadze, in his keynote address, pledged to join the Omanhen to solve the chieftaincy problem that has affected the area’s development for several years.

He pledged to facilitate the construction of a harbour in the town and improve on the sanitation problems at the beaches.

Mr Edumadze also promised to assist in addressing the perennial water problem and the persistent power cuts in the area to improve business activities in the area.

He warned that no acts of lawlessness or any activity after the durbar meant to disturb the serenity and peace of the town would be tolerated, adding that those found engaging in such acts would be severely dealt with.

Other activities, such as the crowning of Miss Aboakyer and a dance, were also held to mark the celebration of the millennium festival.

A number of activities, including a Regatta, were held earlier in the week to kick off the celebrations.

Speaking in an interview with the Graphic in his palace after the procession, Neenyi Ghartey described the festival as successful, adding that “this marks the beginning of a new era for the people of Effutu, for which we all must be joyful”.

Answering a question on the implication of the inability of the two Asafo companies to have a catch, the Omanhen said the implication is something that cannot be discussed. “The short of it is that the chances are fifty-fifty, meaning this year can either be a successful year or a year of hardship,” he said.

Despite the heavy police presence, a few misguided youth, probably from the opposing faction, lighted tyres on a street some few metres away from the chief’s palace.

When the police went in to put out the fire, they were attacked with stones. The police then fired tear gas to disperse them.

An international journalist who was said to be filming the police, in spite of persistent warnings to stop, was heckled by the police for disobeying their order.