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The Omanhene of the Efutu Traditional Area, Neenyi Ghartey V, on Saturday boycotted this year�s Simpa Aboakyer festival celebrated by the chiefs and people of the area. The Omanhene�s absence, which was not explained, created confusion at the festival grounds since he was the rightful person to step on the deer when it was caught by any of the Asafo Companies in the area. As early as 7:00am, the Tuafo No 1 Asafo company beat their counterparts, Dentsifo Asafo No 2 company by being the first to catch a deer and paraded it through the principal streets of Winneba amidst cheers and merry making. But the absence of the Omanhene nearly marred the celebration since he was the rightful person to do the annual stepping ritual on the first catch. The development compelled the Ebusuapanyin of the Otuano Royal family of Efutu, Neenyi Bondzi II, to do the stepping ritual but his action generated controversy as people stated that it was not right for him to do it as the Omanhene should have done it himself. Shortly after he had stepped on the deer, the Tufuhene and Ninfahene of the Efutu Traditional Area, Neenyi Otuboa Siripi II and Nana Kofi Takyi V, protested strongly against what the Ebusuapanyin had done. They indicated that the ritual should have been performed right away without the Ebusuapanyin stepping on the deer, contrary to the tradition surrounding the cerebration of the festival. But for the timely intervention of security personnel and some government officials, who calmed down tempers, the situation could have developed into something else. Shortly after tempers had been calmed, Vice President John Dramani Mahama and his entourage arrived at the durbar grounds. A misunderstanding arose when Nana Kofi Takyi V, the Ninfahene, who was also the chairman of the Aboakyer planning committee, stepped on the second catch brought in by the Dentsifo Asafo No. 2 company. Addressing the gathering, the Vice President disclosed that plans were underway for the Winneba Landing Beach to commence to boost economic activities of the fisher folks. He further disclosed that government had secured a $200million loan from the Chinese government for the projects, which would be dotted along coastal communities in the country, adding that the construction of an ultra-modern market complex was also expected to commence very soon at Winneba junction to facilitate the trading activities of the people of Efutu and Gomoa. Touching on the December 7 general elections, Mr. Mahama appealed to the people to give President John Evans Atta Mills a second term to enable him to carry out all his campaign promises. The MP for the area, Mike Hammah, lauded the people for allowing peace to prevail for the festival to come off successfully. It would be recalled that the Aboakyer festival was called off at the last minute last year when violence erupted all of a sudden, compelling dignitaries who were waiting for the chiefs to commence the festival to also abandon their dais. The violence erupted out of the blue and some youth allegedly pelted stones at some of the chiefs and their supporters, causing injuries to some of them. Celebrants, including foreigners, also had no choice but to abandon their quest to watch the colourful festival and leave for their respective homes and destinations.