*Nsawam has officially launched the 200th Anniversary of the Odwira Festival, with a call to use the celebration to redefine the identitythe historic town.
The festival, first celebrated in 1826 after Akuapem's victory in the famous Katamanso War, will be marked in 2026 under the national theme *“Honoring Our Heritage, Securing Our Future”* and the Nsawam local theme *“A New Dawn for Nsawam.”
Speaking at the launch ceremony at Nsawam in the Eastern Region, the Chief of Nsawam, Okokroko Nana Kwamena Ansah I, said the Odwira is about identity and storytelling.
“What story are we telling, what are we telling people about Nsawam? We should educate people that Nsawam is not prison, but Nsawam is a nation, is a town, and is a city under Akuapem Adonten, and we are all part of Akuapem,” he said.
The Chief explained that this year’s festival, whose main focus is storytelling, is an opportunity to showcase the talents, produce, culture and economic potential of Nsawam, rather than the prison narrative that dominates mention of the town.
“Everybody has talent, either football, dancing, singing, cooking, tennis, volleyball, athletics, barbering, sewing etc. This is the time for you to showcase what you have,” he noted.
He urged residents, market women, hoteliers and transport operators to prepare adequately to receive visitors for the December celebrations, and appealed to government appointees to work together in unity.
“When we mention Akuapem, we are unity and love. Let’s maintain the unity and love from our forefathers. Love and unity alone can take Ghana far,” he added.
The Odwira Planning Committee described Nsawam as a strategic gateway for culture, commerce and community impact, situated along the Densu River within the Adonten Division of the Akuapem Traditional Area, one of the 11 paramouncies in the Eastern Region.
The Committee said the town has endured a nearly three-decade festive drought following the home call of Nana Osae Kuma III. While all yearly customary rituals were duly performed, there has been no grand celebration.
“God’s time is the best. In His time, He makes all things beautiful and that time is now,” the committee stated.
Activities Lined Up
This year’s celebration, billed as a “December to Remember,” is built around three pillars: Traditional, Social-Impact and Economic-Impact.
Traditional activities will include clearing of paths, torch bearing, Royal Flame (Ogya Ano So), affirmations, communal offering (Asafo Sa), royal visitations, remembrance of the departed, royal cleansing and feeding, grand durbar and thanksgiving service.
Social-impact activities will feature educational programmes on customs, quiz competitions, art & craft, robotics, religious choral and drama performances, sports including football, tennis, draft and playing cards, talent discovery, and Mr. & Miss Nsawam beauty pageantry.
On the economic front, the festival will host a trade boost and arts and trade shows, a Business and Investment Forum and Sankofa (2nd Edition), agro-tourism promotion, and a clean/green and food hygiene campaign.
Legacy Projects
The Committee announced two major legacy projects to be pursued through the festival: a Skills Development Centre to train youth in employable skills, and an Arts and Cultural Village to serve the southern sector of Ghana.
It appealed to government, corporate bodies, donors and development partners to partner and sponsor the celebration, promising great brand visibility in what it described as Ghana’s most viable business and investment hub.
The launch was attended by the MCE for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Hon. Philibert Amenope Fummey, MP Hon. Frank Annoh-Dompreh, representative of the Commission on Culture, traditional leaders, the clergy, security heads, and Nsawam citizens home and abroad.
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