2013 Kwahu Easter: No indecency allowed
It cannot be established whether that warning made any impact on revellers last year, but the chiefs have again warned that although Kwahus use Easter to raise money for development projects and engage in social gatherings, the people of the area still hold Easter as a purely Christian event.
And with just two days to mark the beginning of the festivities, frantic efforts are being made by stakeholders to put in place the necessary measures to ensure the success of the four-day event.
One of the main access roads to the Kwahu Ridge, the 12.3km Nkawkaw-Atibie-Mpraeso road, is currently being rehabilitated by the Kwahu South District and the Kwahu West Municipal assemblies.
The 4.6-km road connecting Mpraeso to the paragliding launch pad on top of Mount Odwen Anoma has also been graded and is yet to be made compact by the two assemblies.
The Dwantoafohene of the Kwahu Traditional Area, Nana Nyarko Bewuah II, told the Daily Graphic that the council still held on to its position that revellers to the festivities should dress decently as part of measures to curb immorality during the event.
“The festival is meant for reunification to settle family disputes and not merry-making, as it has been portrayed over the years,” he stated, warning that “those who flout the dress code will be dealt with ruthlessly by the chiefs and the people”.
He appealed to the media to refrain from engaging in any sensational stories that could tarnish the image of the Kwahu people and the festivities.
Explaining the position of Kwahus on Easter, the Abetifihene and Adontenhene of the Kwahu Traditional Area, Nana Asiedu Agyeman III, said Christ died to save mankind and so whoever participated in the festivities must observe Easter values such as decency in dressing and merry-making.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Tourist Authority (GTA) and the Kwahu South District Assembly have already prepared the site for the paragliding sport, which will be officially opened at 9 a.m. on Friday, with 10 pilots from the United States of America, Japan, France and Nepal taking part.
When the Daily Graphic visited the area to assess the level of preparation made towards the paragliding sport and the Easter festivities, it was observed that most hotels in the area had been fully booked.
Work on the Nkawkaw-Atibie road was awarded to Sonitra Construction Company, but the contractor is yet to execute the project.
Although the next main access to the Kwahu Ridge, the 10-km Nkawkaw-Obomeng road, has been opened for use, most motorists prefer the Nkawkaw-Atibie road, in spite of its dangerous nature.
The District Chief Executive for Kwahu South, Mr Joseph Omari, said the failure of the contractor to commence work on the project had exerted enormous pressure on the two assemblies to mobilise the needed resources and equipment to put the dangerous road in good shape.
On security, Mr Omari pointed out that various security personnel had already arrived on the Kwahu Ridge, while some immigration officers had already visited various hotels in the area to obtain data on guests as part of measures to curb crime during the festivities.
The DCE indicated that motorbikes and vehicles without proper licensing would be prevented from the area to curb any criminal activities often perpetrated by some unscrupulous people during the festivities.
Speaking on the preparations made for the paragliding sport, the Manager for Special Events at the GTA, Mr Ben Anane Nsiah, stated that activities earmarked for the event were set to make this year’s paragliding successful.
“The pilots are in the country now and we will first visit the Kwahu Ridge and pay a courtesy call on the Abetifihene, before proceeding to the launch site to conduct test flights to assess the wind before the official opening of the sport on Friday,” he stated.
According to him, advanced tickets had already been sold out to both foreign and local passengers who would participate in the paragliding event.
Story by Nana Konadu Agyeman
