By: Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
The Okuapehene, Oseadeeyo Kwasi Akuffo III, Paramount Chief of the Akuapem Traditional Area in the Eastern Region, has announced plans to mark the 200th anniversary of the Akuapem Odwira Festival in September 2026.
The landmark celebration will be officially launched on March 5, 2026, at the Okuapehene’s Palace in Akropong-Akuapem.
The announcement event brought together members of the public, clergy, queenmothers, and the five divisional chiefs of Okuapeman — Kronti, Adonten, Gyase, Benkum and Nifa.
The Odwira Festival is one of the most significant cultural and spiritual events celebrated annually by the Akuapem people and other Akan communities across Ghana.
Speaking at the ceremony, Oseadeeyo Kwasi Akuffo III explained that the festival symbolises purification, thanksgiving, the honouring of ancestors, and the remembrance of the 1826 victory over the Ashanti army.
He said the 200th anniversary would serve as an opportunity to reflect on the past, appreciate present achievements, and plan for the future of Okuapeman.
To ensure effective planning, an Odwira Secretariat has been established to coordinate all activities. In addition, a seven-member committee has been inaugurated to handle administrative duties, record-keeping, and the overall management of the secretariat.
Outlining proposed activities for the celebration, Oyeeman Osim Kwatia II, the Gyasehene of the Akuapem Traditional Area, said plans include setting up a temporary Odwira museum, artistic reenactments of Odwira history and rituals, divisional cultural displays, fireworks, and a candlelight vigil.
Other activities include public lectures across the various divisions, an Odwira quiz competition for schools, a historical presentation on Tetteh Quarshie and Ghana’s cocoa heritage, tree-planting and environmental initiatives, a forum on “Okuapeman and the Church: Historical and Cultural Reflections,” and the launch of an Akuapem Endowment Fund.
The palace chaplain, Rev. Isaac Yao Boamah, assured the clergy’s full support for the celebrations, saying prayers would be offered for a peaceful and successful anniversary. He also disclosed that several individuals have already pledged cash and material support towards the organisation of the event.
