Correspondence from the Eastern Region
The 2025 Odwira Festival in Adukrom+Akuapem, Eastern Region, deliberately repositioned tradition as a platform for youth empowerment, skills development, health advocacy, and dialogue between traditional authorities and government.
Under the theme, “The Youth, Our Beacon of Hope and Future,” the festival placed young people at the heart of cultural preservation and community progress, marking a significant shift in the observance of this cherished tradition.
Celebrated from 2 to 11 January 2026, the festival opened with a strong emphasis on youth development.
Selected youths participated in digital skills training, environmental clean-ups, sports, and faith-based programmes, blending innovation with tradition to create an engaging and empowering experience.
Simultaneously, core Odwira rites, health campaigns, cultural mentorship, and community development projects were carried out with active youth participation, reinforcing the festival’s wider social impact and promoting generational continuity.
The celebrations culminated on Saturday, 10 January, with a vibrant Grand Durbar of Chiefs and People of Adukrom and Okere at the Adukrom Astro Turf Park.
Addressing the gathering, Chief of Adukrom and Nifahene of Akuapem Traditional Area:, Osuodumgya Otutu Ababio V underscored the role of youth in shaping the future of Akuapem. “The future of Akuapem will be shaped by the minds we nurture, not the monuments we build,” he said, calling for deliberate mentorship and empowerment of the next generation.
In his speech, Osuodumgya Otutu Ababio V highlighted the challenges and opportunities confronting the youth in today’s rapidly changing world. He urged chiefs, elders, parents, educators, and community stakeholders to create environments where young people can thrive with dignity, confidence, and purpose.
“Education should be a gateway, skills training a priority, and opportunity matched with preparedness,” he said, stressing the importance of grounding youth in culture, tradition, and values. “When our youth embrace their identity and understand their roots, they can walk with a sense of purpose that no challenge can destroy,” he added.
The Chief also directed a message to the youth, encouraging them to embrace discipline, hard work, and integrity, and to prioritize substance over fame and purpose over applause. “The youth are not just the hope of tomorrow—they are the strength of today. This land is yours to inherit and transform,” he said, inspiring young people to rise to their potential as custodians of Akuapem’s future.
Eastern Regional Minister, Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, commended the festival theme as timely and aligned with national development priorities. She highlighted government initiatives such as the No Fees-Stress Policy for public tertiary institutions and youth recruitment into the security services as strategies to reduce unemployment and expand opportunities.
Goodwill messages from key government figures reinforced the focus on youth empowerment.
Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah who sat in as special guest of honour, emphasized government efforts to provide skills and opportunities for young people through initiatives including the National Coders Programme and the National Apprenticeship Programme, assuring that youth in Okere would benefit from these initiatives.
Meanwhile, Okere Constituency Member of Parliament, Daniel Nana Addo-Kenneth, pledged continued collaboration with local authorities to ensure that development projects reach the youth and broader community, positioning Okere as a strategic hub for investment and entrepreneurship.
The festival concluded on Sunday, 11 January, with a thanksgiving service and a communal youth dinner, bringing to a close a celebration that redefined Odwira as more than a cultural event.
Two distinguished indigenes of Okere, Dan Botwe, the immediate past Member of Parliament for the area, and Alex Apau Dadey, Chairperson of KGL Group, were honoured during the celebrations for their outstanding contributions to the socio-economic development of the Okere community.
The two were conferred with the Order of the Star of Okere, the highest traditional honour of the land.
Their recognition highlights the pivotal role they have played in supporting local initiatives, infrastructure, and programs that have positively impacted the lives of residents in the area
By integrating youth empowerment, innovation, and community development, the 2025 festival demonstrated how tradition can serve as a catalyst for leadership, social cohesion, and sustainable development.
The Akuapem Nifa Odwira Festival 2025 thus set a precedent: preserving culture while equipping young people to lead, innovate, and transform their communities.
As the festival’s theme reminds all stakeholders, the youth are indeed the beacon of hope and the architects of a brighter, united, and prosperous future for Akuapem.
Source:
www.ghanaweb.com