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13.10.2008 Politics

Anomabo celebrates Okyir in grand style-With messages on peaceful elections heralding

13.10.2008 LISTEN
By Magdalene Sey, Anomabo - Ghanaian Chronicle

Thousands of people from all walks of life, on Saturday joined the people of Anomabo, in the Mfantseman West Municipality of the Central Region, to mark their annual Okyir Festival in grand style.

Okyir, which literally means abomination, is marked annually by the people of the area, to remind themselves of the social vices in society, to enable them live good and exemplary lives.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Omanhen of the Anomabo Traditional Area, Kantamanto Amonoo XI, implored residents of the area, to take a cue from the name of the festival (Okyir), and eschew acts that would bring the name of the town into disrepute.

He advised the people to behave in an acceptable manner, and avoid things that might lead to violence in the December 7 general elections, in order to ensure peaceful polls.

Kantamanto Amonoo also commended President John Agyekum Kufuor for rehabilitating the Mallam-Yamoransa road, which, he said, had lessened the difficulty in travelling on the road.

He also thanked President Kufuor for tarring most streets in the Anomabo Township.

The development chief of the area, Nana Egyir Aggrey, appealed to the government to put up a university in the area, to help raise the fallen standard of education in the area.

The running-mate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who was accompanied by his wife, noted that there was the need for the country to learn from the celebration of Okyir, to help the citizens live lives worthy of emulation.

He noted that illiteracy, poor healthcare delivery, and poor educational systems, were some of the abominable things the country needed to do away with, indicating that it was in that direction that Nana Akufo Addo, the NPP presidential candidate, would make education and healthcare cheaper, to enable the country develop.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Mfantseman West Constituency, Stephen Asamoah Boateng, disclosed that the Anomabo Castle was being renovated to attract more tourists to the area.

He assured fishermen in the area, that the government had begun arresting pair trawlers, and advised them to be on the lookout, urging them to also report any pair trawlers to the police.

The festival was also used to outdoor the first-ever female development chief, Nana Ama Egyirba, to partner Nana Egyir in developing the area.

The Central Regional Minister, Nana Ato Arthur, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Mfantseman Municipality, Robert Quainoo Arthur, Stephen Asamoah Boateng, and Dr. Bawumia made a joint donation of schnapps and GH¢2,700 cash, to support the celebration.

Mr. K. T. Dadzie, husband of Gifty Afenyi-Dadzie, former President of the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA), and his brother K .T. Annan, also donated GH¢1,000 cash towards the celebration.

Present at the function were the Queenmother of the Mankessim Traditional Area, Nana Ama Amissah, the Tufohen of Akuapim-Akropong, Nana Ampem Darko, and other traditional rulers from the region.

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