Grand durbar climaxes Breman Odwira Festival

The chiefs and the people of the Breman Traditional Area in the Central Region have held a grand durbar to climax their annual Odwira Festival.

The festival, which attracted people from all walks of life, is a unique integration of smaller but culturally rich activities, such as the Okyir, Bayerdi, Akwanbo, Abangye, Essa and Ahwie.

Present at the durbar were the Vice-President of the National House of Chiefs, Daasebre Kwebu Ewusi VII; the President of the Central Regional House of Chiefs, Obrempong Nyanful Krampah XI, and the District Chief Executive for Breman, Mr Isaac Odoom.

Others were the Omanhene of the Breman Essiam Traditional Area, Odeefuo Afankwa III, and the Paramount Chief of the Enyan Denkyira Traditional Area, Osabarima Otsibu.

As part of this year’s festival, there was a visit to the Okye River (Nsumko) by the chiefs and the people of Breman.

The visit to the river is done to mark the 10th anniversary of the installation of an Omanhene.

Durbar

Indigenes of the area, both home and abroad, who attended the durbar at the Asikuma Catholic Boys’ Basic School Park were clad in their neatly designed traditional attire.

The durbar was preceded with a procession of chiefs and queenmothers in palanquins, adorned in rich and captivating Kente, with gold ornaments to match.

They were paraded through some principal streets of the town before arriving at the durbar grounds, amidst the firing of muskets by various Asafo (warrior) companies, drumming and cultural display.

Partnership

In a speech read on his behalf by the Minister of Transport, Mr Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo reiterated the government’s resolve to strengthen the partnership with traditional rulers in the implementation of policies and programmes for the accelerated development of the country.

He said the government recognised chiefs as key stakeholders in the development of the country, for which reason it would seek wise counsel from traditional rulers in all areas, “since their opinions and inputs will enable us to chart the path that will bring relief to Ghanaians”.

The President made a cash donation of GH¢10,000 to the chiefs for the festival, while Mr Ofori Asiamah also offered GH¢15,000.

The Central Regional Minister, Mr Kwamena Duncan, said the government was prudently managing the economy with the passage of a Fiscal Responsibility Law which was aimed at ensuring financial discipline in the running of the country.

He, therefore, called on the people to keep faith with the government and offer constructive criticisms, where necessary, to help shape government programmes for the benefit of all.

A management consultant, Dr Ishmael Yamson, advised Ghanaians against allowing party politics to divide them, saying they should rather come together and work to attract development to their respective communities.

Commendation

The Omanhene of the Breman Traditional Area, Odeefuo Amoakwa Buadu VIII, commended the government for the decentralisation of government scholarships, from which 25 tertiary students in the Breman District had benefitted.

He lamented the poor state of roads in the district, which he said was affecting economic activities in the area, adding: “The deplorable state of roads in the district is a great source of worry to motorists and farmers.”

“Interestingly, although the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) owns about 574 acres of cocoa farms in the district, the area has not benefitted from the cocoa road projects,” the Omanhene said.