The vibrant coastal city of Winneba, Ghana, was promised a significant infrastructural development during the Aboakyer Festival of 2025. Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim, the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, announced the government’s commitment to building a state-of-the-art, 24-hour market in Winneba. This market, equipped with robust security measures including a police post and a fire station, along with amenities like a crèche, is part of the government’s broader initiative to promote a 24-hour economy. Originally slated for implementation in all 16 regional capitals, Winneba’s strategic importance secured its position as the first recipient of this modern market facility. The minister emphasized the project’s significance as a tribute to Neenyi Ghartey VII, the Paramount Chief of the Effutu Traditional Area, whose request prompted the government’s commitment. He further assured the community of his return in 2026 to assess the project’s progress, underscoring the government’s commitment to its timely completion. The market development is expected to invigorate the city’s economy and provide a significant upgrade to the current market conditions.
The 2025 Aboakyer Festival, themed “Championing Our Ancestral Legacy,” was a vibrant display of tradition, culture, and community spirit. Held annually to appease the deity Penkye Otu and seek blessings for a bountiful harvest, the festival drew hundreds of participants, both local and international. The city was alive with energy as chiefs, adorned in colorful traditional attire, paraded to the Presbyterian School Park amidst cheering crowds. The festive atmosphere was further amplified by young men and women, painted in various hues, chanting traditional war songs. Traders and food vendors seized the opportunity, experiencing brisk sales throughout the celebratory period. Despite the large crowds and exuberant celebrations, the event remained peaceful and orderly, thanks to the presence of a robust security detail comprised of various agencies including the police, immigration, fire service, national security, and prison service. The festival embodies the rich cultural heritage of Winneba and serves as a vital component of the city’s social and economic landscape.
The climax of the Aboakyer festival, meaning “hunting of animal,” is the competitive hunt between the two Asafo companies, Tuafo Asafo No. 1 and Dentsefo Asafo No. 2. This year, the Tuafo Asafo Company emerged victorious, returning from the forest with a live bushbuck at 10:13 am, sparking jubilant celebrations. The captured bushbuck, a symbolic offering to the deity Penkye Otu, was presented to Neenyi Ghartey VII, who performed the traditional ritual of stepping on the animal three times to signify its acceptance. The Dentsefo Asafo group arrived later at 10:24 am. The hunting competition is a deeply ingrained aspect of the festival, symbolizing the community’s historical connection to the land and its traditions. It also serves as a focal point of the festivities, drawing immense excitement and anticipation from the participants and spectators.
Beyond the festivities, the Aboakyer festival also serves as a platform for addressing community concerns and outlining development priorities. Minister Ibrahim, while commending the preservation of the festival’s rich traditions, urged the community to prioritize environmental sustainability, highlighting the interconnectedness between the festival’s longevity and the health of the environment. He also made a heartfelt appeal for unanimous support for the Effutu Municipal Chief Executive nominee, Mr. Abraham Arthur, emphasizing the importance of collaborative leadership in driving the municipality’s development agenda. Neenyi Ghartey VII, in his address, highlighted the dilapidated state of the existing market, emphasizing the hardships faced by market women and appealing for a new market befitting Winneba’s status. He framed the request as a legacy project for the President, John Mahama, underscoring the market’s vital role in the community’s economic well-being.
The paramount chief’s plea resonated with the Minister’s promise of a modern market, solidifying the government’s commitment to addressing the community’s needs. Neenyi Ghartey VII further emphasized the festival’s role in fostering unity and attracting investment, ultimately contributing to Winneba’s growth and progress. He underscored the importance of preserving and nurturing the festival to ensure continued development and prosperity for the community. Mr. Ekow Panyin Okyere Eduamoah, the Central Regional Minister, echoed these sentiments, calling on corporate institutions and investors to establish businesses and factories in Winneba, thereby creating employment opportunities for the youth. He reiterated the government’s commitment to equipping the youth with the necessary skills to thrive in these new ventures.
The Aboakyer festival, deeply rooted in the history of the Effutu people, commemorates their ancestors’ arduous journey from Timbuktu to their present settlement in Winneba. According to oral tradition, the festival originated as a form of appeasement to the deity Penkye Otu, seeking protection against challenges such as disease and famine during their migration. Initially, human sacrifices were offered, but as civilization progressed, these were replaced by animal sacrifices, first with leopards and ultimately with bushbucks, considered a more practical and humane alternative. The festival, held annually in the first week of May, is a powerful testament to the Effutu people’s enduring cultural heritage and their continued reverence for their ancestors and their guiding deity. It serves as a vital link to their past, a celebration of their present, and a beacon of hope for their future.
