By Asomani Gideon | December 21, 2025
The ancient rhythms of fontomfrom drums filled the air, the smell of incense drifted through the palace grounds, and the colour and splendour of Akan royalty was on full display as the New Juaben Traditional Area on Sunday, December 21, 2025, observed the Akwasidae, one of the most sacred and celebrated festivals in the Akan calendar.
Joining in the rich and colourful celebration were the Municipal Chief Executive of New Juaben South, Hon. Ransford Owusu Boakye, and the Eastern Regional Minister, Hon. Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, who both graced the occasion organised by the Paramount Chief of the New Juaben Traditional Area, Nana Kwaku Boateng III, in a powerful demonstration of the strong and enduring relationship between modern governance and traditional authority in New Juaben South.
Understanding the Akwasidae
To truly appreciate the significance of the occasion, one must understand what the Akwasidae means to the Akan people and why it continues to hold such a central place in the cultural and spiritual life of communities like New Juaben South.
The Akwasidae is one of two Adae festivals observed by the Akan people of Ghana, the other being the Awukudae. Celebrated every 42 days according to the traditional Akan calendar, which is based on a six week cycle, the Akwasidae always falls on a Sunday and is one of the most important recurring occasions in the Akan traditional calendar. The word Adae itself loosely translates to a resting place or a place of rest, and the festival is deeply rooted in the Akan belief in the spiritual connection between the living and their ancestors.
At the heart of the Akwasidae is the veneration of the ancestral stools, known in Akan as the Blackened Stools, which are considered the spiritual embodiment of the souls of past chiefs and ancestors. During the festival, the chief and his elders gather in the palace to pour libations, offer prayers, and make sacrifices to the ancestors, seeking their guidance, blessing, and protection for the community. It is a deeply spiritual moment that reinforces the belief that the living and the dead are not separate but exist in a continual relationship of mutual responsibility and respect.
Beyond its spiritual dimensions, the Akwasidae is also a grand social and cultural occasion. Chiefs appear in their full regalia, adorned in magnificent kente cloth, gold jewellery, and traditional ornaments that reflect the wealth, history, and dignity of their stools. Drumming, dancing, and the firing of muskets fill the air as the community gathers to celebrate its identity, honour its past, and reaffirm its shared values and traditions. It is a day when the community comes together not just as neighbours but as one people with a shared heritage and a common destiny.
For the New Juaben Traditional Area, the Akwasidae holds particular significance as it is one of the key occasions through which the Omanhene, Nana Kwaku Boateng III, maintains and strengthens the spiritual and social fabric of the community under his traditional authority. It is a day when the stool of New Juaben is honoured, the ancestors are remembered, and the people are reminded of who they are and where they come from.
A Celebration of Unity Between Tradition and Governance
The presence of Hon. Ransford Owusu Boakye and Hon. Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey at the Akwasidae celebration carried a significance that went beyond mere courtesy. It was a deliberate and meaningful statement of the Assembly's deep respect for the traditional institutions of New Juaben South and its recognition that sustainable development cannot be achieved without the active involvement and blessing of the community's traditional leadership.
The Municipal Assembly has consistently demonstrated through its actions that it sees the New Juaben Traditional Council not as a separate institution but as a vital partner in governance and development, one whose wisdom, authority, and community influence are indispensable to the work of building a stronger and more prosperous New Juaben South.
Hon. Ransford Owusu Boakye expressed his deep appreciation for the tradition and culture of the New Juaben people, reaffirming the Assembly's unwavering commitment to preserving and celebrating the rich heritage of the community while working hand in hand with its traditional authorities to drive development and improve the lives of all residents.
As the drums faded and the celebrations drew to a close on that Sunday afternoon, the message of the day was clear and resonant. New Juaben South is a community that honours its past, celebrates its present, and builds confidently toward its future, with its traditional institutions and its modern governance structures walking side by side every step of the way.
Long live the Omanhene. Long live New Juaben. 👑🪘