No Palanquin at Fetu Afahye

The popular Fetu Afahye of the people of Cape Coast was climaxed last Saturday with pomp but without the usual palanquin ride. A chieftaincy dispute in the traditional area compelled the Omanhen, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II to avoid the graceful ride in palanquin and instead walked to the durbar grounds.The decision of the Omanhen to avoid the use of palanquin was said to have been based on security advice. The Durbar The other chiefs, in solidarity with the Omanhen�s decision not to ride, also refused to use their palanquins. They walked majestically in their rich paraphernalia from the Emintsimadze Palace to the Victoria Park where the durbar to climax the festival was held. Hence, the usual kingly procession through the principal streets of Cape Coast and the graceful royal dances that accompanied their arrival in palanquins to the durbar grounds were missing. Apart from that spectacle which took a bit of shine off the festival, this years�s Fetu Festival was highly patronised and graced by the Vice-President, Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur. The Asafo companies, the traditional militia, however, went on the usual procession through the principal streets before joining the chiefs at the Victoria Park to be addressed.� Veep Calls for Peace. The Vice-President, in his address, observed that it was impossible to achieve any meaningful development if there was no unity and peace. Mr Amissah Arthur said without peace and unity, all efforts to develop Cape Coast would come to nothing. He advised the people of Cape Coast to work out their differences and promote peace and development. He said it had been a year of progress for the people of Cape Coast since the last festival, considering the many development projects that were being undertaken in the area. He gave the assurance that the government would keep faith with the people of Cape Coast and Ghana in general and ensure that the Better Ghana Agenda gets to all. Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, Paramount Chief of whose kingship had been in contention, said it was becoming increasingly worrying that differences and disputes among the different groupings could not be solved amiably. Speaking in Fante, Osabarima Kwesi Atta said the divisions in the area was rather worsening. ��This festival was nearly cancelled because of these divisions�� he stated, adding that if there was no development, the area was certain to have underdevelopment. Osabarima Kwesi Atta also expressed worry about promiscuity among the youth which had led to a high incidence of teenage pregnancies and called on parents to be more responsible towards their children.� The Court Case. Recently, a high court ruling asked the National House of Chiefs to delete from its records, name of the Omanhen of the Ogua Traditional Council. The order was necessitated by a writ brought before it by the Plaintiff, one Opanyin Kofi Amoonoo, against Nana Afari Twako, the Central Regional House of Chiefs, National House of Chiefs and Osabarima Atta, for using fraudulent means to get him enstooled as chief. Osabarima has since appealed against the ruling.