Okuapehene sends delegations to Vice President ahead of Odwira festival

The Okuapehene, Okuapehene, Oseadeeyo Kwasi Akuffo III, on Thursday, October 7 presented some gift items to the Vice President, Dr Mamudu Bawumia to celebrate his new age and also to invite him to this year’s Odwira’s Festival.

The gifts were presented by the Okuapehene Asamponghene, Nana Kwaku Aboagye Dewuro I, at the Vice President’s residence.

Dr Bawumia accepted the gifts and the invitation and also expressed his profound gratitude to the chief’s kind gestures.

The chief’s gift was to commemorate and celebrate Dr Bawumia’s 58 birthday celebration.

This year Odwira festivities begin on Monday, October 11 to Saturday, October 17. For nearly 200 years, generations of Akropong, Amanokrom and Aburi have annually celebrated the Odwira festival which was initiated by Nana Addo Dankwa 1, who was then the 19th Okuapehene of Akuapem.

According to a statement from His Royal Majesty Oseadeeyo Kwasi Akuffo III, the Paramount Chief of the Akuapem Traditional Area, this years' Akuapem Odwira has themed "Oneness through our heritage".

In the state it reads, “moving forward, I encourage all and sundry to avail ourselves and work passionately towards the development of our beloved Akuapem State. This years' theme reminds us that, Okuapeman abounds in unharnessed natural and human resources that have the potential of transforming our communities and also transforming the lives and living standards of its citizenry. Let us, therefore, come together and build our state. “

“I entreat all to be vigilant and adhere to the Covid-19 safety measures, for a safe Odwira festival celebration. Long live Okuapeman, long live Ghana. Okuapeman te ase !! “ he added.

The celebration is linked to the victory of the people of Okuapeman over the then powerful Asante army during the historic battle of Katamansu near Dodowa in 1826. Being a Yam festival, traditionally, the timing of Odwira also coincides with the harvest season of the New Yam when there is abundant food; gratitude for the harvest is especially expressed in “feeding” the ancestors.

The festival will be preceded by the usual clearing of the path to Amanprobi which ushers in the Odwira with the purification of the Kingdom with herbs followed by the parading of the harvest of new yams through the principal streets of Akropong, capital of Akuapem.