The 2026 Aboakyer Festival ended on a high note on Saturday as the Tuafo No.1 Asafo Company emerged first to present a live bushbuck to the Paramount Chief of the Effutu Traditional Area, marking a key highlight of the annual cultural celebration.
The successful capture of the live bushbuck by Tuafo No.1 drew loud cheers from thousands of festival-goers as the animal was presented to Neenyi Ghartey VII, who sat in state during a colourful grand durbar.
In line with tradition, the Paramount Chief stepped on the bushbuck three times to signify its acceptance by Penkyi Otu, the principal deity of the people, clearing the way for traditional rites believed to bring bumper harvests and prosperity.
This year’s festival was celebrated on the theme: “Advancing Our Cultural Heritage for Development.”
Earlier in the day, Neenyi Ghartey VII and his chiefs made a majestic procession through the streets of Winneba in rich traditional regalia before arriving at the AME Zion School Park, where large crowds had gathered to witness the celebration.
The annual festival is deeply rooted in the history of the Effutu people and commemorates Penkyi Otu for guiding their ancestors from the Western Sudan Empire, specifically Timbuktu, to their current settlement in Winneba.
The event attracted several high-profile dignitaries, including Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Central Regional Minister Ekow Panyin Okyere Eduamoah, other government officials, and a delegation from the Winneba-Charlottesville Sister City relationship.
The celebration once again showcased the rich cultural heritage of the Effutu people while reinforcing calls to preserve tradition as a tool for development.
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