There is uncertainty over the celebration of this year’s Aboakyer festival of the people of Winneba.
This is because the two warrior (or Asafo) groups in the town cannot agree on which of them is mandated to go on the deer hunt, which is the highlight of the festival.
As a result, the Efutu Traditional Council has reportedly voted to suspend the festival, which was due to start from Sunday, May 1. Omanhene of the Effutu Traditional Area, Neenyi Ghartey, told Joy News the decision was taken to prevent a repeat of last year’s violence between the two warrior groups.
“The traditional council met and reviewed events following what happened last year. “There is a tendency that what happened last year might be revisited. We value lives so we have decided that the festival be called off so that we can have time to make proper peace between the factions in the Asafo,” he said.
Even though he admitted that efforts have been made to resolve the crisis, nothing substantial has been achieved. However, the Stool father for the Effutu State, Neenyi Bondzi, insists that the festival has not been cancelled.
He told Joy News the festival would go on as scheduled, insisting, the police would be notified to provide protection when necessary.
