The Ghana Tourism Authority and the Ghana Tourism Development Company are to provide all the necessary logistics as well as marketing and financial support for this year’s Aboakyer Festival.
Chief executives for the two institutions, Akwasi Agyemang and Kwadwo Antwi gave the assurance when they paid a courtesy call on the paramount chief of Winneba Traditional Area Neenyi Ghartey VII.
They discussed a wide range of marketing and investment initiatives aimed at boosting Tourism in Winneba to create jobs for the youth and bring economic transformation to the people.
The Aboakyer Festival, celebrated by the people of Effutu has had a chequered history in recent times but with the support from two institutions and the promise by the two main Asafo groups, this year’s event is expected to be a great success.
The institution of the festival was to commemorate the migration of Simpafo (tradition name given to the people of Winneba), who migrated from the Timbuktu in the ancient Western Sudan Empire to their present land in the central coast of Ghana.
To mark the festival, the two warrior groups go on a hunting expedition in a game reserve during which they are required to capture a mature bushbuck alive and present to the chiefs and people at a colorful durbar.
The warrior group which returns first with the bushbuck is returns declared winner and is highly regarded for bravery.
The animal is beheaded as sacrifice to their god and the warrior group which
A statement signed by Neenyi Bondzie Eseidu, Abuasuapnyin of Otuano Royal Stool House, the elders and kingmakers of Otuano Royal Stool House promised collaboration with the two Asafo Companies – Tuafo Number One and Dentsifo Number Two – to perform rituals for the commencement of the festival between April 29 to May 6, 2017.
By Kwabena Adu-Gyamfi|TV3|3news.com|Ghana