Bushbuck, beads, and 30 years of reign: Winneba explodes with culture as Neenyi Ghartey VII steps into prosperity at Aboakyer 2026.
Thousands of people thronged Winneba on May 2 for the grand climax of the 2026 Aboakyer Festival at the AME Zion School Park, where Neenyi Ghartey VII received homage amid vibrant cultural displays of drumming, dancing, and colourful regalia. The festival’s highlight was the presentation of a live bushbuck by the Tuafo No.1 Company to the Omanhene, who stepped on it three times to signify its acceptance by Penkyi Otu, the principal deity of the Effutu people, in a ritual believed to ensure prosperity and a bumper harvest. Celebrated under the theme “Advancing Our Cultural Heritage for Development,” the festival also marked the 30th anniversary of Neenyi Ghartey VII’s reign and his 70th birthday. Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, together with other government officials and dignitaries, attended the event and used the occasion to assure residents of major infrastructure development, while also highlighting plans for a Women’s Development Bank and the government’s 24-Hour Economy policy to boost jobs and economic growth. Neenyi Ghartey VII praised the government for maintaining peace and advancing the Winneba-Kasoa Road project, while urging improvements in educational infrastructure. The celebration, which honours the migration history and spiritual heritage of the Effutu people, was conducted under tight security and also boosted local business activities as vendors sold food, crafts, and traditional attire to the large crowd.
