2016 Odambea Festival launched

By Afedzi Abdullah, GNA
Anomabo (C/R), July 17, GNA - The Nkusukum Traditional Council in the Mfantseman Municipality of the Central Region, has launched the celebration of the 2016 Odambea Festival of the chiefs and people of Anomabo.

The week-long festival would be celebrated by 20 towns and villages from Saturday August 20 to Sunday August 28.

The Festival, like many other festivals in Ghana, is celebrated in the last week of August during the beginning of food harvesting to signify hooting at hunger and to commemorate the achievements of their ancestors.

This year's celebration is on the theme: 'Unity, Peace and Development.'

History had it that when the Barbor Mfantses were migrating from Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region to their present settlement, three tribes, Aboras, Nkusukum and Ekumfis, moved together with the Nkusukum forming the 'ridge' in the middle while the Aboras moved on the right and the Ekumfis on the left.

Speaking at the launch, Nana Kwamena Ayansah I, Mpontuhen of Nkusukum and Chairman of the Festival Planning Committee, outlined activities planned for the event.

They include a tennis competition, soccer gala, beach bash, clean up exercises, health screening, traditional rituals and a cooking competition.

He said a cow would be paraded through the communities for the final propitiation rites on Friday, followed by a grand durbar at Saltpond Roman Catholic Church Park on Saturday.

Nana Ayansah said the Traditional Council as part of it short term development plan, would use the occasion to generate funds to start the building of the council's guest house.

He said the celebration would be crowned with a non-denomination church service on Sunday.

Nana Kwesi Brebo III, Acting Omanhen of Nkusukum Traditional Council, said Odambea, derived its name from the role of the 'ridge' the (Nkusukum) people played in the migration.

It is also likened to the long beam that joined one end of a roof to the other to make roofing possible 'Odan-Mbeae'.

This year being an election year, the Omanhen asked his chiefs not to discriminate among politicians who visit their palaces as part of their campaign but cautioned them not to endorse any of them.

Nana Kwesi Brebo appealed to the citizens to turn up in their numbers to make the festival grand and successful.

Dr Don Arthur, former Regional Minister who launched the Festival, expressed concern about the various chieftaincy disputes in the country, and challenged the Nkusukum Traditional Council to be distinct in dealing with all their disputes to bring to bear the beauty of chieftaincy.

He urged them to be guided by the theme and remain united since it is only through unity that every community could enjoy continuous development.

He said education is key to the development of every nation and therefore called on the chiefs, parents and community leaders to be collectively responsible for the education of children in the area to bring about the desired development.

He appealed to the citizens to use the festival to rekindle their commitment to the development of the town, which had played an important role in the nation's political history.

Mr Aquinas Tawiah Quansah, Member of Parliament for Mfantseman pledged his support to the successful organisation of the festival and asked the chiefs to use the occasion to enlighten the youth on the culture and traditions of Nkusukum.

He also urged them to actively involve residents and use the festival to promote unity and peace as meaningful developments could only take place in a peaceful environment.

GNA