President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo on Saturday, May 4, 2024 joined the Chiefs and people of the Effutu Traditional Area to mark the 2024 Aboakyir Festival with a call on him for the construction of a modern market benefitting the status of Winneba.The Paramount Chief of the Efuutu Traditional Area, Nenyi Ghartey VII, who placed the call at the door-step of the President explained that the existing market was not in the best of shape and needed urgent attention.The weeklong celebration which commenced on Saturday, April 27, with a musical show, clean-up exercises in communities and homes, health walk, regatta/ tug-of-war and a marathon race among other activities was under the theme “Promoting Tradition and Development through Aboakyir Celebration” .The festival held devoid of clashes saw the two main Asafo groups embark on a deer hunting expedition for the catch of the deer which symbolized unity and success in the ensuing year to climax the celebration.The Euphoria around the 2024 celebration of the festival also drew anxious crowed from far and near to witness the colourful Aboakyir festival of the Effutu people in the Central Region of Ghana.Nenyi Ghartey VII who lauded the Akuffo Addo led Government for extending numerous developmental projects to the area since assuming the reigns of power in 2017 reechoed that the provision of a modern market would help boost and expand the local economy.He commended the Government for the construction and successful completion of a Landing Beach for the people of Winneba which according to him would enhance fishing activities in the area. Nenyi Ghartey VII did not hide the indebtedness of the Effutu people to the Akufo Addo Government for the opening- up and reconstruction of the Kasoa-Winneba Highway into a double carriage way which he said when completed would reduce the carnage on the road as well as ease the movement of goods and services. He commended the Member of Parliament for the Effutu Constituency, Alexander Afenyo- Markin for his contribution towards the development of the area.President Akuffo Addo in an Address to climax the annual celebration of the Aboakyir Festival commended the chiefs and people for organizing the festival in a peaceful atmosphere.Nana Akufo Addo lauded the chiefs and people of Effutu for preserving the tradition bequeathed to them by the forefathers and urged them to embrace social cohesion, tolerance and forge ahead in unity to accelerate development. He stated that the uniqueness of the Aboakyir Festival had the key of opening up the local economy as well as bringing in the needed investors for the economic transformation of Effutu and the region as a whole.President Akufo Addo assured Ghanaians of the determination of his Government to work towards the maintenance of the country’s enviable democratic credentials and territorial integrity in the round up to the December 7 General Election.Ghana, according to the President had an enviable record in the West African Sub-region as an epitome of democracy and tranquility, making her a beacon of peace for investment attraction and retention.He intimated that he would not superintend over the country to slip into political turmoil to erode the years of socioeconomic and democratic gains made over the years.President Akufo Addo touted the many development projects that his government had undertaken since 2017 and rallied the support of the Effutu people for the Vice President, Dr. Mahmoud Bawumia who doubled as the Flagbearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party and the Effutun Member of Parliament, Alexander Afenyo- Markin for continuity in the development and progress of the country.The Majority Leader of Ghana’s 8th Parliament and Member of Parliament for the Effutu Constituency, Alexander Afenyo- Markin expressed the gratitude of the Effutu people to the President for extending monumental projects to the area to help alleviate the plight of the people.Amongst them included the construction of three new Senior High Schools to add to the only Senior High School known as the Winneba Secondary School, the construction of a Regional Children’s Hospital, the construction of a tissue factory, a Landing Beach, roads Libraries and ultra- modern Information and Communication Technology Centres.Other dignitaries at the event included the Central Regional Minister, Justina Marigold Assan, Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Stephen Asamoah Boateng, the Paramount Chiefs for the Gomoa Ajumako and Gomoa Assin Traditional Areas, Obrempong Nyamful Krampah XI, and Obirifo Ahunako Ahor Ankobea II respectively, the Effutu Municipal Chief Executive, Alhaji Zubairu Kassim and other Municipal and District Chief Executives in the Central Region.
STORY BY: CHARLES BAAH ABOAGYE – ISD
Last modified: May 10, 2024
