Asamankese 'Obuodwan' festival  in limbo over Okyehene's ban

The annual Obuodwan festival of the chiefs and people of Asamankese in the Eastern Region has been banned this year by the paramount chief of Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area who double as the President of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin II.

The overlord of Akyem Abuakwa has used his chieftaincy authority, to write a caution to Asamankesehene, Osabarima Adu Darko and order him to immediately halt his plan to organise this year's festival, following the unending chieftaincy dispute among some factions in the area.

In a letter dated Friday, November 19, 2021, from the office of Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council Ofori Panin Fie, submitted to Asamankesehene, Osabarima Adu Darko, copied MCE for West Akim Municipal giving vivid details on how this year's annual Obuodwan Festival was banned by Okyehene.
 
The two-page letter reads in part; "The Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council has noted with the great concern, Asamankesehene, Osabarima Adu Darko's determination to proceed with the celebration of the Obuodwan Festival."

The letter indicated that the Council is informed that the supposedly cancelled festival has been announced on several media platforms by Asamankesehene, Osabarima Adu Darko and elaborated programmes for the Obuodwan Festival. 

According to the letter, this is in clear violation of the expressed orders of the standing committee rendered on the 8th day of November 2021.

It stated that the Council has taken note of the fundamental customary breaches' attendant with your (Osabarima Adu Darko) conduct.

"Of more serious concern is the security implications that any such celebration propose for the Asamankese township and its surrounding communities."

"We are also informed that both the Anum-Asamankesehene and the Adeisohene have in a letter addressed to you (Asamankesehene, Osabarima Adu Darko) expressed their reservations and protest about your decision to celebrate the Obuodwan Festival," the letter noted.

In the circumstances, the letter asserted that the Council wish to indicate its disapproval and to further warn that any such celebration has the tendency to undermine the peace of the Asamankese town and its surrounding communities.

"Please take note and notice is hereby given that the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council will not hesitate to invoke its highest customary
 sanctions, should its orders be flouted," the letter concluded.

 Freeman Koryekpor Awlesu