Mini trade fair, marathon race and paragliding characterise Kwahu Easter
These include dressing, a mini trade fair, marathon race and paragliding.
Advertisement
Dressing
Everyone who has been to the Kwahu Easter Festival has one way or another expressed concern over the dressing of most revellers, particularly of females. Chiefs in the area have often complained through the issuance of threats, but this has always fallen on deaf ears. However, this year saw a remarkable improvement.
Perhaps the magic could be the meeting held between the newly installed Paramount Chief of the Kwahu Traditional Area, Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II, and the police to appeal to the latter to arrest people who dressed indecently. Most revellers spoken to were happy about the turn of events and expressed the hope that with time, the situation would be a thing of the past.
Security
Security was as usual very tight and heavy in view of the huge numbers expected due to earlier media reports of a possible chieftaincy crisis and also to maintain law and order.
According to the Eastern Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police Mr Ebenezer Tetteh, 500 security personnel were deployed to the Kwahu Ridge.
"No major incident was recorded due to the presence of the personnel stationed in various towns on the ridge," he told the Daily Graphic.
Marathon race
One innovation that caught the attention of revellers was the maiden marathon race from Nkawkaw to Abene, the seat of the Kwahu paramountcy.
The athletes climbed the meandering and hilly ridge to Abene much to the surprise of spectators who had come out to cheer the runners.
In the words of the Chairman of the organising committee, Nana Effah Opimanang, who is also the chief of Obomeng, "We want to make this marathon an international one in the future, like the Kenyan and Berlin marathons."
He was full of praise for the athletes, particularly those who crossed the finishing line.
Social events
One cannot mention Kwahu Easter festivities without musical concerts. From Atibie, Mpraeso, Obomeng and other towns; huge stages were mounted to provide music for the numerous patrons, with the late Ghanaian music icon Ebony Reigns’ "Maame Hwe" making waves. In fact, patrons could not resist anytime Ebony's music was played as they danced their hearts out. Drenched in sweat, most patrons danced into the night.
In other towns such as Obo, Abetifi and Abene, the story was the same.
Multinational companies took advantage of the festivities to showcase their products.
Other activities
There were street-naming ceremonies at Obomeng as one of the highlights of the festival.
There was also a meeting between Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II and Kwahu citizens in the diaspora. The chief urged them to be worthy ambassadors of the area and Ghana as a whole.
Observations
A grey area was the issue of accommodation. Maybe next time, tents must be erected and rented at a fee so as to avoid the situation where people had nowhere to sleep.
Commendation
The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) must be commended for adding value to the paragliding grounds at Atibie. Mr Frederick Adjei-Rudolph and his team at the Eastern regional office of the GTA also deserve commendation. In fact, they did a yeoman's job to make this year's Kwahu Easter a memorable one.