Plot to stop Aboakyir festival uncovered

A grand scheme to destabilize the celebration of this year’s Aboakyir festival of the people of Effutu in Winneba of the Central region has been uncovered by the Planning Committee.

Addressing a press conference in reaction to a publication in the New Independent newspaper captioned, “ABOAKYIR FESTIVAL SUSPENDED - Says The Two Asafo Companies”, the chairman of the planning committee, said the publication was borne out of mischief and attempt by “some faceless” individuals to sabotage the progress made by the Committee so far.

While urging the public to treat the said article with the contempt it deserves, Mr Acquah was emphatic that any attempt to disrupt this year’s celebration would be met by fierce resistance as the police would be on standby to ensure orderliness.

“The publication was deceptive, concocted and a clandestine attempt to malign the Effutu people,” Mr Acquah stressed.

Mr Acquah further explained that after the launching of the festival and to ensure a peaceful festive occasion, the Chairman of the Aboakyir Planning Committee, Alex Peter Acquah represented by vice Neenyi Kojo Beedu (V) and Mr. Ghanney were summoned to the office of the Regional Police Commander, Moses Ninson in Cape Coast on Monday 7th April 2014 together with the Tufohen of Winneba.

“At the said meeting, we all resolved never ever to deny the citizenry of the Effutu State their long standing heart desire to celebrate this year’s Aboakyir with oneness and soundness of mind.”

“…Again on Tuesday 8th April, 2014 at the office of the Effutu Municipal Assembly, the Presiding Member Very Rev. Eldad Bonney a minister of the Methodist Church, Ghana and a lecturer at the University of Education, Winneba had separate meetings with the personnel present.

“…First with the Tufohen of Winneba, and thereafter met with the two Abaatan Kweku Armah-Sekum of Tuafo No.1 and Kweku Baiden of Dentsifo No.2. Also present at the meeting were Divisional Police Commander Supt. Ahmed Issah Yakubu and the Winneba Fire Service Commander.”

Mr. Acquah revealed that the Abaatan as well as the Supis for the two Asafo companies all declared their togetherness to celebrate the festival without any trace of rancor that will mar the beauty of this wonderful festive occasion.

“As if all did not go down well with the Tufohen, the Divisional Police Commander, Supt. Ahmed Issah Yakubu reconvened yet other separate meetings in his office at Swedru on Thursday 10th April, 2014. This time the two Abaatan were each accompanied by two other members (making six-member committee) of three elders of Tuafo Asafo company and three elders of Dentsifo Asafo company.”

“… At the end of the meeting held at Swedru, the Divisional Commander of Police, Supt. Almed Issah Yakubu requested from the two Abaatan a copy of the programme of activities for the Aboakyir 2014,” he said.

He could not understand why the two Asafo groups which have openly declared their willingness and readiness to celebrate the 2014 Aboakyir festival in grand style to be planning to stop the celebration.

He, however, indicated that the two Abaatan and their accompanied Supis disassociated themselves from the said reportage by declaring that nobody had held any meeting or press conference with the two Asafo companies let alone infiltrate their camps to cause mayhem during the celebration.

The chairman for the 2014 Aboakyir Planning Committee reiterated the committee’s position on celebrating this year’s Aboakyir festival and cautioned the media to desist from using their platforms for people whose actions will discredit the work of the Aboakyir 2014 Planning Committee.

He added: “I wish to stress here that you do not in any way grant interviews, press conferences or otherwise to any identifiable or unidentifiable group outside this August Body.”

Mr. Acquah also called on the public to treat any material or article coming from such people with the highest contempt.