Obo Kwahu Celebrates Akwasidaekese Festival

THE PEOPLE of Obo in the Kwahu South District of the Eastern Region have celebrated the Eto Pitie and Akwasidaekese festival at a colourful ceremony at Obo.

In a speech, the Obohene, Nana Yeboah Afari Obuogyan II, explained that the festival which is celebrated annually as the last Akwasidae of the year is meant to commune and communicate with their ancestors, take stock of their activities as a people, plan ahead of coming years and thank God for His protection and provision over the years.

He said the festival belongs to all Kwahus which depict their rich cultural values. He used the occasion to remind his colleague chiefs to realise that their position is meant to lead the people for development and not their personal gains.

He praised the people for their communal spirit and their love to develop Obo and urged them to continue the good spirit in the years ahead.

He commended all those who have contributed significantly towards the development of Obo and prayed the good Lord to bless them.

According to him, the Obo stool has over 267 communities under it and it needs a concerted efforts to develop all those areas.

He called on all citizens of Obo to contribute their quota to help educate a number of needy children in the area.

Nana Obuogyan further appealed to the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) and the authorities concerned to, as a matter of urgency, repair the broken booster machine at its Mpraeso station which has deprived the people of Obo and Twenedurase of potable water for more than two years now.

He said the situation has caused a number of water borne diseases including Cholera resulting in the death of many people. It is also creating problems and difficulties for the students of Kwahu Ridge Secondary/Technical School (KRISTECH).

In a speech read on his behalf, the Kwahu South District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr. Raymond Osafo Djan urged Nananom to use such festivals to enhance the development and improvement in the lives of the people.

He also appealed to Nananom to help check indiscipline among Ghanaians especially the youth who are our future leaders.

The DCE further appealed to Nananom to settle all differences among them since there would be no development in a divided nation.

He advised the gathering to protect themselves against HIV/AIDS pandemic.

The chairman for the occasion, the Nkawkawhene, Nana Yaw Frempong, urged nananom to bury all their differences and let the year 2002 take various chieftaincy disputes away and rather allow peace and development take place.

The newly installed Obo Krontihene, Nana Osei Adofo Akuamoah III, pledged to assist nananom to rapidly develop Obo. He also promised to assist the unemployed youth in area to acquire skills for employment and further assist to improve the chieftaincy institution in the area and Ghana as a whole.