Oseadeeyo Kwasi Akuffo, the Okuapehene

Festivals have moved beyond the mere pomp, pageantry and ceremony to become a platform for the promotion of family and community advancement.

It must be noted that years back a few festivals in the country attracted people beyond the confines of the traditional areas to draw thousands of tourists and business leaders looking for eco-friendly locations to invest their capital.

The Odwira Festival of the chiefs and people of Akuapem on the Ridge sharing borders with Accra is one such annual event that pulls the crowd.

Besides, the display of the rich culture and traditions of the people during such occasions, the weather on the Ridge, is very friendly making the area very salubrious to all, including the first time visitor. 

Beginning from Monday, October 7, 2024, the historic town of Akropong, also the traditional seat of the Akuapem Traditional Area, will begin to welcome the citizens and tourists to the commencement of the run up to the climax.

The climax, which is the 2024 Akuapem Odwira durbar, comes off at Mpeniase, at the forecourt of the Palace at Akropong on Friday, October 11, 2024. Those who are familiar with the Akuapem Odwira durbar enjoy the pomp and pleasantries but dread the siege which makes movement to the durbar grounds a nightmare.

The gridlock on the single lane from Mamfe to Akropong is better experienced rather than told by eye witnesses. Whatever the challenges will be to access Akropong during the festival, revellers will make their way to the capital city of the Akuapems, to catch a glimpse of Nananom in their resplendent Kente  clothes, cultural displays and invited guests, including leaders of Ghana or their representatives.

This year's Odwira festival is set to be a very memorable one in spite of the discordant voices in certain quarters.

The organisers of the Odwira activities have assured the people of a very peaceful celebrations because the Okuapehene, Oseadeeyo Kwasi Akuffo lll, is recognised by law, albeit the declaration of "Odwira-free-year" by certain people.

The Odwira

The Odwira is celebrated exactly 40 days after the last "Awukudae" in the Akan calendar; and nine "Awukudaes" make one full calendar year. The festivities cover a whole fortnight during which many age-long traditions and customs, which had been handed down by the forebears are observed.

Oseadeeyo Kwasi Akuffo III arriving at a function

Odwira is an Akan word which literally means purification. It is, therefore, assumed that the name "Odwira" was adopted principally because it is during this festival that the Okuapehene and all occupants of stools in the area"purify" their stools, "feed" their ancestors, thank them for all the "blessings" bestowed on the people during the outgoing year and "pray" to the gods and ancestors for good health, long life and prosperity in the ensuing year.

The Akuapen Odwira festival is celebrated to affirm issues that were partly religious and partly political. Therefore, it dramatises Akuapem sacred myths, legend and specific historical episode such as those which took place during the great Akatamansu War of 1824.

Basically, the Akuapem Odwira festival celebration  is to affirm the spiritual value within Akuapem through dancing, singing and the settlement of personal feuds and other differences in the communities.

At the end of a 40-day mediation and rest period( the rest period called "Adaebutu"), the traditional rites commencing the Odwira festival are performed at Akropong which paves the way for other divisional heads to perform their own traditional rites.

It is noteworthy that all these traditional rite are performed first at Akropong which is the capital of Akuapem in order to give way for the other towns to follow. The Odwira belongs to the Okuapehene and  until he celebrates his Odwira nobody can, that is why all the dates for Odwira are in succession after the celebrations at Akropong.

The activities to mark Odwira begin on Monday, October 5, 2024 with path clearing whose significance  symbolised the opening of the gates or paths so the ancestors may come in and eat and also to keep the lines of communication open between the living and the ancestors so that the ancestors may travel home without hindrances.

The next day is the "outdooring" of the new yam during which rites are performed to allow for the consumption of the New Yam. The same day some selected chiefs usher in the Odwira in the form of some symbols which is presented to the Okuapehene.

Shortly after the symbolic presentation of the Odwira to the Okuapehene, the official ceremony of the lifting of the ban on drumming, singing, weeping and wailing and all forms of noise which were imposed six weeks earlier is performed.

On Wednesday, October 9, the chiefs and people will remember the departed members of the community and on Thursday, there will be the symbolic cleansing of the traditional area and the people as well as the renewal of allegiance to the Ofori Kuma stool among other traditional rites.

The great homecoming of Akuapem citizens, home and in the diaspora, is climaxed by the grand durbar of chiefs and people on Friday, October 11. Then Saturday, October 12, the Okuapehene will join the chiefs and people of Amanokrom  for the Gyaseman Odwira.

The hierarchy of Akuapem

There are five divisions forming the Akuapem State headed by the Okuapehene. The divisions are the Kronti, Adonten, Gyase, Nifa and Benkum. Presently, the Krontihene  is Osahene Boafo Ansah III, the Adontehene is Otoobuor Djan Kwasi II, while the Gyaseman is headed by Okrofrobuor Oyeeman Osim Kwatia II.

The rest are the Adukromhene and Nifahene of Akuapem, Ahunuabobirim Osuodumgya Otutu Ababio V and Osabarima Enyine Asiedu Okoo Ababio III, Benkumhene of Akuapem.

The sitting Okuapehene was enstooled in 2020 and gazetted in 2022 and since then has initiated some projects to uplift the wellbeing of his people.

These include a new library block in Akropong, donations to the School for the Blind and Deaf, scholarships to brilliant needy  students from Akuapem through his partnership with the Academic City University, major renovations at the Amenapa Falls, the Adehye golf tournament to raise funds for charitable works in Okuapeman, surgical supplies worth $450,000 in partnership with Alpha Health Group to health facilities in Akropong, the Akuapem State book project, provision of borehole to Nifa SHS, among other initiatives and the installation of the Adantemuhene, known as Abass Adamu Giwa.

The Okuapehene explains the rationale for the new chief explaining that, " Okuapeman, with it's amazing weather, beautiful landscape, and hospitable people, has become a cosmopolitan  area.

Many non-indigenes now live in this great land and contribute positively to its progress. As a result, it has become imperative to have a distinguished personality to serve as an envoy between the non-indigenes and the Okuapehene through a close collaboration with all the five divisional chiefs, as well as the Okuapehene's Nkabomhene and Mpuntuhene. 

The theme

This year's  Akuapem Odwira is on the theme, "Sustainable Development through patronage of eco- tourism and environmental health." Providing the choice of the focus of the festival this year, the 2024 Odwira Planning Committee Chairman, Nana Awuku Sakyi, Akyempemhene of Amanokrom and Mpuntuhene of Akuapem, said planning for Odwira 2024, " has been a wholly inclusive process involving all the five divisions of Akuapem, the Akuapem Traditional Council and all stakeholders within the area; the traditional elders, youth, religious, municipal, and indeed no one is excluded."

He indicated that this year's event represents the strengthening of the bonds that unite  Akuapems, the reaffirmation of traditional allegiances and for all visitors a unique experience, and an opportunity to witness our rich cultural heritage and social structure in it's most authentic state.

According to Nana Awuku Sakyi, "the Odwira  durbar will serve as a platform to amplify this year's theme focussing on eco-tourism and sustainable development to highlight progress and prospects for partnerships in this emerging field." He added that, " the presence and participation of all five divisions will be a manifestation of Akuapem unity.

There will also be an underlying critical message calling for peace and good conduct by Akuapems during this period of national elections."

The question who are on the guest list of the Okuapehene at this year's Odwira durbar?  Top government officials will not miss out. Royalty and the cultures of other ethnic groups will be on display as well as Nene Sackite, Konor of Manya Krobo and President of the Eastern Region House of Chifs will not miss the roll call.

Odeneho Kwafo Akoto, Akwamuhene and the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Truru II, will grace the occasion.

The writer, known in private life as Ransford Tetteh, is the Nkosuohene of Pakro