Programme for Asante Effiduase Odwira Festival launched

Effiduase (Ash), Sept 19, GNA - Nana Adu-Ameyaw 11, Omanhene of Asante Effiduase, has called for peace and unity among his people to help the traditional area pursue its development agenda after a 28-year-old chieftaincy dispute stalled development. "Let us all reconcile and put our hands on deck to develop our communities now that the dispute has been amicably settled through the intervention of Otumfuo Osei Tutu 11, the Asantehene," he said. Nana Ameyaw was speaking at the launch of a month-long Odwira festival for the people of Effiduase Traditional Area.

He expressed regret that the festival, which served as a homecoming and a symbol of cohesion for the chiefs and people, had not been celebrated for the past 17 years owing to the dispute. He commended the Asantehene for the prudent manner in which he intervened to settle to the dispute and expressed the hope that the peace now prevailing in the area would be sustained. "It is time to cast our minds back and reflect soberly on what happened in the past and deliberate on the best way forward," he stressed

The Omanhene appealed to citizens both home and abroad as well as the general public to attend the festival that would showcase the rich cultural and historical heritage of the traditional area. Mr. Philip Basoah, the Sekyere East District Chief Executive, said it was gratifying that peace had now been restored to the area and expressed the hope that the festival would be an avenue to educate the people on the rich cultural values of the country and pledged the support of the assembly to ensure the success of the event.