The 2023 Aboakyir Festival of the chiefs and people of Effutu was on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, unveiled at Winneba with a call on the residents to plant more trees in their households in order to conserve and protect the environment.
The festival, which commences on Monday, May 1, 2023 will be climaxed on May 6 with a grand durbar of chiefs and people of the area.
Speaking at the ceremony to launch the celebration, the Paramount Chief of the Effutu Traditional Area, Neenyi Ghartey VII, urged the residents to nurture trees to maturity and ensure that they are planted in respective compounds. He said that this year’s Aboakyir Festival will be used to buy into Government’s Green Ghana Project to propagate and ensure that forest cover has been increased in the area.
Nenyi Ghartey VII noted that the tree planting programme was crucial in conserving the environment by planting more tress to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Enumerating the unique tradition bequeathed to the Effutu people by their ancestors to keep the religion and culture of the people sacred, the Paramount Chief of Effutu traditional area, who launched the festival advised the celebrants to be circumspect in their actions in order not to mar the beauty, peace and success of the festival.
Nenyi Ghartey VII reechoed the economic importance of the festival which according to him, would help tourism to flourish as well as comprehensive entertainment, including sports.
He called for the full participation of the people to contribute their quota towards a peaceful and successful festival.
On his part, the Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Alhaji Zubairu Kassim, whose speech was read on his behalf by the Municipal Planning Officer, Mr. Abubakar Saddique Adam, pledged the support of the Assembly in ensuring a successful celebration.
He said that the Assembly will collaborate with the Forestry Commission in Winneba to partner with the Traditional Council for the seedlings needed to successfully execute the tree planting agenda for the occasion.
Hon. Zubairu Kassim assured the people of adequate security before and after the celebration to ensure an incident free celebration as well as maintain the peace being enjoyed in the area.
The launching was also used to inaugurate the 2023 Aboakyir Planning Committee with the mandate of planning and executing activities including general clean-up and consecration of the shrine, Aboakyir Food Bazaar, cultural exhibition and parading of deities by Tuafo Number 1 and Dentsefo Number 2 Asafo companies through the streets of Winneba.
STORY BY: CHARLES BAAH ABOAGYE
ISD- EFFUTU MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY
PUBLISHED BY: MIS UNIT
EFFUTU MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY
Last modified: March 17, 2023