Eastern Regional Minister Seth Kwame Acheampong has announced that government is going to partner the New Juaben Traditional Council to revive Akwantukese festival to become biggest festival to be celebrated annually in December to attract diasporans and tourists who return to Ghana for Christmas and new year festivities.
Akwantukese Festival was marked annually at end of the year to commemorate the great migration of the ancestors of the chiefs and people of New Juaben from the Ashanti over a century ago.
Akwantukese’ to wit the Great Migration signifies the exodus of Juabens and their allies from their ancestral homes in Asante to establish the autonomous New Juaben settlement in the Eastern Region of Ghana in the 1870s.
The festival however relapsed for some years under the late Omanhene Daasebre Prof.Emeritus Oti Boateng.
The newly enstooled Omanhene of New Juaben traditional Area, Daasebre Kwaku Boateng III has however expressed strong desire to revive the festival to the highest level.
Speaking at a dinner and awards night held in Koforidua under the auspices of Daasebre Kwaku Boateng III Omanhene of New Juaben the Eastern Regional Minister Seth Kwame Acheampong said government has decided to support the New Juaben traditional area make Akwantukese one of the huge festivals in Ghana.
The Minister said , the various homecoming events by communities in New Juaben during Christmas is a signal that, Akwantukese will become more fulfilling and welcomed by the people.
A renowned legal practitioner Gabby Okyere Darko,who is cousin to President Akufo Addo and very close to government assured that ,government will rally all necessary state agencies to come onboard for the planning of the Akwantukese beginning next year.
He said the first has the potential of attracting African diasporans who come to Ghana during December.
He said Daasebre will soon form a committee to prepare for the celebration of the maiden revived Akwantukese in 2023.
Meanwhile ,the Omanhene of New Juaben traditional Area Daasebre Kwaku Boateng III is pioneering the establishment of New Juaben Rural Bank and a modern Girls Senior High School in the traditional area.
The establishment of the proposed rural bank according to the Omanhene aims at supporting small scale enterprises and traders in New Juaben to stimulate the local economy and create job opportunities for the youth.
Source : Mybrytnewsroom.com/Obed Ansah
