The Chiefs and people of Agona Nyakrom in the Agona West Municipality of the Central Region have officially launched this year’s Akwambo Festival, with a renewed commitment to restoring traditional cultural values that have significantly diminished among the youth.
According to Nana Oteatuoso Osei Bonsu III, Chairman of the Akwambo Planning Committee and Tufuhene of Agona Nyakrom, this year’s celebration is focused on reviving time-honoured customs and instilling discipline in younger generations.
“It is sad that the youth of today have taken to foreign cultural practices contrary to our cultural practices and norms. This adoption is having negative effect on the current generation and yet to come when we leave the scene,” he lamented.
He explained that as part of efforts to bridge the generational gap and reinforce cultural identity, the youth have been actively engaged in planning the festival.
“It is against this background that Nananom have engaged the youth in the planning of this year’s festival,” he stated. “It is our wish that this year’s festival will open the door for Nananom to take drastic changes to these foreign cultural practices which are alien to us as Ghanaians.”
He also called on the government to strengthen traditional authority by reviewing and reinforcing laws that give chiefs the mandate to enforce discipline and uphold community values.
“I want to urge the Government to revamp the laws that empower Nananom to take drastic measures against certain offences,” he emphasized.
Beyond the cultural revival, the festival will also serve a development purpose. Nana Oteatuoso Osei Bonsu III revealed that the event will be used to raise funds for upgrading the Nyakrom Health Centre to a polyclinic.
“A lot of programmes and activities have been put in place for this year’s event including massive clean-up exercise, cultural drumming and dancing by Asafo Companies of Agona Nyakrom, marathon race and inter-school quiz and other culturally related rituals including purification to our ancestors,” he said.
Mr. Kwesi Adoko Blanson, who chaired the launch, urged the youth to fully participate in the festival’s activities and embrace the cultural lessons embedded in the event.
This year’s Akwambo Festival promises not only to be a celebration of tradition but also a strategic call to cultural renewal, community development, and generational unity.
