Security assured at Odwira festival – MCE

Barima Awua Sarpong Asiedu Larbi

The Akuapem North Municipal Chief Execu¬tive (MCE), Barima Awua Sarpong Asiedu Larbi has stat¬ed that adequate measures had been taken to ensure a peaceful celebration of the Odwira Festival.
The festival which will begin on September 25 and end on the October 1, 2023 is celebrated by the chiefs and people of Akuapem.
Mr Asiedu”s made this prom¬ise at the parading of Odehye Kwasi Akuffu popularly Known as Joe Ferrel as the Paramount Chief of Akuapem during the funeral of the late Odehye Gladys Abena Otema Ohene at Akropong last Saturday.
At the funeral, Odehye Akoffu who was dressed in the costume of an omanhene danced to traditional music, after which he spoke to the mourners, proclaiming himself as the Okuapemhene.
His speech led to confu¬sion between his followers and those of the Oseadeoyo Kwasi Akuffu III, the gazetted Okuapemhene who would be presiding over the Odwira festival for the first time in six years.
The timely intervention of the police, however restored order.
After an emergency mu¬nicipal security committee meeting, on August 15, Barima Asiedu Larbi told the press that although calm has been restored, all the necessary security measures had been taken to ensure a peaceful celebration of the Odwira festival.
He, therefore, urged all Akuapems in the diaspora to embark on a homeward journey to join relatives and friends to celebrate the fes¬tival during which Oseadeoyo Kwasi Akuffu III would be climbing into the Palanquin for the first time in six years.
“We have handled security issues very well to maintain peace, although we have spent over GH¢2million on it in the past few years which should have gone into the provision of social amenities for the people.
“l, however, believe that the current peaceful atmo¬sphere will continue to enable the assembly utilise its finan¬cial resources on infrastructur¬al amenities,” the MCE stated.