The Chief and people of Apremdo have climaxed their annual Kundum Festival with a display of rich Ahanta culture at a colourful ceremony last Saturday.
Kundum, which means ‘Eat to Satiate Yourself’, saw people converging at the durbar ground with the Divisional Chief of Apremdo, Nana Egya Kwamina XI, known in private life as ‘William Kwesi Eghan’, sitting in state .
It is on record that Apremdo was the only Divisional Stool that celebrates the Kundum Festival in Ahanta.
A retinue of traditional leaders and dignitaries from both academia and politics added colour to the climax of the festival.
Awulae Attibrukusu III, Omanhene of Lower Axim, Nana Kwesi Ayemang IX, Omanhene of Lower Dixcove, and Nana Kwaku Danquah III, Omanhene of Mo-Kintampo, as Special Guests, led a retinue of other sub-chiefs to the durbar grounds.
Nana Barima Ekow Gyasa II, Acting President of the Sekondi Traditional Council, was among the traditional entourage.
Other sub-chiefs like Nana Nwinwa Nwinwa IV, Chief of Hotopo, Barima Deow Kweku, chief of Adjoa, Nana Assabil II, Chief of Biakrom, Nana Nyanko Ansah II, Chief of Amanda Elmina, also joined the traditional queue.
Other dignitaries such as the Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, as Special Guest, Kojo Acquah, Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Effia-Kwesimintsim, the Regional Director of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Phillip Fiifi Buckman, a former parliamentary candidate, and other elected Assembly Members were present to grace the occasion.
The festival was preceded by a ban on noise making from September 4th to 25th, followed by an inter school quiz, clean up exercise, food competition, and cleansing of the Stool to appease the gods all over Apremdo, health screening, and registration onto the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Addressing the hundreds of people, who had thronged the venue of the durbar, Nana Egya Kwamina XI welcomed the visitors on behalf of his Overlord, Otumfuo Badu Bonsoe.
Nana Egya Kwamina Nana said for the past 14 years celebrating the Kundum Festival had always been marred with unwarranted court injunctions, threats of violence, and uncertainties by the detractors of the Apremdo citizens.
He added that after 14 years of enduring the “unwholesome” acts and threats of the saboteurs, on July 17, this year, the High Court in Sekondi, presided over by Her Justice Hannah Taylor, cleared the way for the Apremdo Division Stool to celebrate the Kundum Festival.
KUNDUM
Touching on the festival, Nana Egya Kwamina said it began with a ban on noise making from the 4th September 2022, “and we are crowning it with today’s durbar.”
He continued that the participation of all and sundry in the various community-led activities of the festival truly indicated that they had missed the joy of the celebration for far too long.
In all these, he pointed out, “we have chosen the path of moral highway of good will and reconciliation.”
But express his appreciation to the police, military, and Judiciary Service for their roles in ensuring peace and stability in Apremdo during the turbulent 14 years.
The Divisional Chief used the occasion to honour his ancestors, most especially some gallant men and women who had recently sacrificed their life towards the peace and stability of Apremdo, mentioning names like Elvis Osei, Kyeame Nyowa. A minute of silence was observed in memory of the gallant soldiers.
DEVELOPMENT
In line with the effort in promoting health services, Nana Egya Kwamina told his guests that he had released a parcel of land for the construction of a health clinic.
He further said that the Municipal Assembly had financed the construction of a modern health facility, which “we commissioned on Thursday, as part of activities commemorating this year’s festival.”
“In the classification of the Ghana Health Service, they call it a CHPS compound, but I can say for sure that the facility financed by the Assembly is more than a CHPS compound, I’m sure in rural settings it will even qualify to be a hospital.”
The Chief, however, requested the Regional Minister to us his office to assist them have whatever requirements that would aid in upgrading the facility into a clinic, in accordance with the Ghana Health Service classification.
Thanking the government through the Assembly for the facility, the Chief further announced that in a few days, his traditional area would be in the news for a positive cause, saying that President Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo Addo would commission an ultra-modern court complex in Apremdo Apollo.
Even though Apremdo was not the municipal capital, he said, “I can confidently say that Apremdo is becoming the unofficial administrative capital of the Municipal Assembly.”
Apremdo currently hosts the Municipal Court complex, the Municipal Fire Service, and the Municipal Office Complex, which is under construction.
The Divisional Chief, however, used the occasion to appreciate and acknowledged the selfless spirit of volunteerism exhibited by the people of Apremdo towards all the development projects initiated in the community.
He also thanked members of Apremdo for their active participation in the religious activities of this year’s Kundum Festival.
