Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II
This year’s Eluo Festival, which iscelebrated by the chiefs and people of Sefwi-Anhwiaso Traditional Area in the Western North Region, has been launched amid spectacular cultural display and funfair.
The annual event is held to signal the start of the harvest of yams in the area, and the big event has been slated for November under the theme: “Knowledge of our traditional values as a pace for peace keeping and education.”
This year’s festival would coincide with the celebration of the 70th birthday of the Omanhene of the Traditional Area, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, and the 30 years anniversary of his enstoolment.
At the colourful launch last Friday on the premises of the Assemblies of God Church at Bibiani, the chiefs, adorned with beautiful pieces of Kente cloth and ornaments, danced gracefully to kete drums as they arrived at the venue for the launch.
Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II thanked God for granting them the opportunity to celebrate the festival again. Besides, he praised God for keeping him strong to see his 70th birthday and for seeing him through the 30 years of being on the throne.
He said they were expecting a good yam harvest this year, entreating the chiefs and people in the area to remain united and focus on bringing sustainable development to their respective communities.
He expressed his profound gratitude to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for appointing him to the Board of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and for the numerous projects his government was undertaking in the area.
He also commended successive governments, particularly the regime of former President Jerry Rawlings, for the provision of some road projects in the Sefwi-Anhwiaso area.
He noted that the Sefwi-Anhwiaso Queens Senior High School which he initiated would continue to benefit from more infrastructural projects to promote girl-child education in the area.
Dr. K. K. Sarpong, Chief Executive Officer of GNPC, reminded the chiefs and people to use such festivals to revive traditional values aimed at protecting the environment and promoting discipline in the society.
He said they should accept to live in peace and harmony to accelerate socio-economic development.
The Paramount Chief of Wassa Amenfi Traditional Area, Tetrete Akumoah Sekyim II, who chaired the occasion, called on the people to attend the festival to contribute towards the development of the area.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Bibiani