A Deputy Director at the Auditing Department of the Electricity Company of Ghana, Peter Kennedy Arkoh has been installed as the Chief (Odikro) of Gomoa Techiman in the Central Region.
He goes by the stool name, Nana Kwame Essoun III. A chartered accountant by profession, Mr. Arkoh replaces Nana Kwame Essoun II who passed on to glory in 2014. He was together with her Queenmother Nana Esi Kobbah II carried in their respective palanquin and paraded the streets of Gomoa Techiman during the 2016 Akwambo festival.
They two later swore the oath of allegiance to the Amankrado Nana Yaa Katsir Atta II and the chiefs and people of the community.
Nana Kwame Essoun III pledged his unflinching support to his people to ensure the rapid development of the community.
His immediate priority would be the education of children and therefore charged parents to pay maximum attention to the education of their wards, as he hopes to improve the standards of education there. He promised to help them put up a community centre by next year.
Nana Kwame Essoun III in an interview with 3news.com advised his subjects to observe this year’s election in absolute peace. He noted that many political parties would come around with their campaign messages but appealed to his people to assess them and vote for whoever they want.
He therefore cautioned his people against political violence and intolerance. “We only want peace in this community and the nation at large. We are all one people and Ghanaians for that matter so we must remain united as one people. Therefore each and everyone must exercise his or her franchise peacefully. “After the elections we must all unite behind the winner for the development of the community and the nation as a whole.”
At a colourful durbar in honour of Nana Kwame Essoun III and Nana Esi Kobbah II on August 13, the Ajumako Kwanyanko Odikro, Nana Agyeman-Owu V who was among the retinue of chiefs who graced the occasion asked the youth to eschew behaviours that could derail the development of the Community.
He revealed a scholarship scheme for students in the area who excel in the both basic and second cycle final examinations.
Nana Esi Kobbah II also advised women to possibly stay away from telenovelas and concentrate on the education of their children to give them a brighter future.
The 2016 festival was heralded by half-night prayer session on Friday followed by a dawn keep-fit exercise which saw participants trotting to nearby Gomoa Tarkwa and Gomoa Eshiem communities and back.
The Saturday August, 13 was a pure display of culture of the Gomoaland climaxed by the ridding in palanquin of the newly installed chief and queenmother of Gomoa Techiman.
The day was crowned with quiz and talent display by the children. There was a fundraising event on Sunday followed by the outdooring of a special cloth for the festival on Monday Agusut 15.
The subsequent days saw a dinner in recognition of the contribution of old men and women in the community, rap and dancing competition, gala match among communities within Gomoa Techiman and a special football match between a select side of Gomoa Techiman and Osagyefo Professionals from Tarkwa in the Western Region. The visitors were humbled by three goals to nil.
The parliamentary candidates of the various political parties including the New Patriotic Party and Progressive People’s Party popped up in the course of the week to canvass for votes.
Aside the pomp and pageantry, the festival provided the platform for relaxation, family reunion, friends get-together and striking of new acquaintances.
