By Samuel Yaokumah
Akropong-Akuapem (E/R), Oct. 27, GNA – Joy and excitement filled Akropong-Akuapem as chiefs and people of Akuapem gathered at the Okuapehene Palace frontage to celebrate this year’s Odwira festival, marked by traditional drumming, dancing, and vibrant cultural displays.
The Odwira festival, rooted in Akuapem heritage, serves as a period of spiritual and physical cleansing, thanksgiving to ancestors and deities, and reflection on communal values.
This year’s celebration also set the tone for the upcoming 200th-anniversary event in 2026, themed “Preserving Our Heritage, Securing Our Future.”
A key highlight was the presence of Jira Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I, overlord of Gonjaland, who attended as special guest of honour, adding cultural depth and national significance to the occasion.
In his keynote address, Okuapehene Oseadeyor Kwasi Akuffo III invoked ancestral spirits and celestial beings to protect Okuapeman.
He paid tribute to all who contributed to the success of the festival and emphasized Odwira as a homecoming for the sons and daughters of Akuapem.
He called for unity among the five divisions of Okuapemman to build a strong foundation for future generations.
Reflecting on the festival’s theme, the Okuapehene urged citizens to take pride in their traditions and language, stressing the importance of cultural preservation.
He encouraged other ethnic groups across Ghana to embrace their heritage, fostering peace and national unity.
Yagbonwura Soale I, the overlord of Gonjaland, expressed gratitude to Okuapemman for their warm welcome and celebrated the richness of cultural diversity.
He emphasized the importance of peace and unity in driving development and prosperity through trade and education, and advocated visionary leadership to foster national progress and cohesion.
Eastern Regional Minister, Mrs. Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, commended the Akuapem people for their vibrant celebration and highlighted the festival’s role in shaping cultural values and historical reflection.
She emphasized the importance of preserving heritage for future generations and called for unity among Nananom and the people of Okuapemman.
Highlighting education as a driver of sustainable societal transformation, she applauded the Eastern Region House of Chiefs for opposing illegal mining and urged collective efforts in cultural preservation and unity as key pillars for regional and national development.
The Odwira celebration reaffirmed the importance of cultural heritage in national development and highlighted the need for collaborative efforts to preserve Ghana’s rich traditions.
GNA
Edited by D.I. Laary/George-Ramsey Benamba