How Onua FM 'locked down' Gyakiti with a 4-day Easter Festival

Easter celebration in the Akwamu area of the Eastern Region was this year taken to another level as Accra-based local radio station Onua FM joined hundreds of revelers in and around the area for a four-day jam-packed event. In a year that the overhyped Kwahu Easter festival saw a dip in patronage, the Onua FM Gyakiti Easter Festival attracted relatively high patronage, at least considering the fact that the event is still in its infant stage; two years old. For four days, Gyakiti was on lockdown with happy people, good music, musical and dance performances, beach party and sumptuous local foods. Not even the remoteness of Gyakiti in the Asuogyaman District, which is about 40 minutes drive from Akosombo, as well as the dusty nature of the road to the town could deter holidaymakers from joining the Onua FM Easter train to the place. Upbeat about the exciting experience Gyakiti had to offer following the involvement of Onua FM and the successes of last year’s event, hundreds of revelers made the town the nerve-centre of Easter celebrations from Easter Friday to Easter Monday. The four-day event kick-started with the Onua FM Gyakiti Easter train from Accra on Friday, March 30 dishing out great music and goodies to enthusiastic crowds at Somanya, Kpong, Atimpoku, Akosombo and Adumasa. By 10:00pm, the team, together with the sponsors for the event–Rush Energy Drink, Nana Takyi Bitters and Colgate – had arrived at Gyakiti for the Akwaaba bash, which was used to whet the appetite of revelers for a great moment in the next three days. Though Easter is a season to remember the cruel crucifixion of Jesus Christ in the mountainous Golgotha over 2000 years ago, for the people of Akwamu, it was a period for them to gather at the town in a valley, Gyakiti, to reunite with families and friends to celebrate life. With diversified programmes, Easter Saturday started off in the morning with a football gala between eight teams from various towns in the Akwamu area and Accra to compete for the Onua FM Gyakiti Easter gala trophie. It was eight hours of great football as the teams battled each other to lift the trophy. Onua FM’s seasoned sports presenters Papii and Winter were on hand to give the spectators professional commentary in Twi, which dazzled the crowd. It was not all football though; spectators were treated to good music during halftimes while some were quizzed on ranging topics related to the sponsors, Onua FM and its sister media houses as well as the Gyakiti town. In the night, activities peaked! Celebrants turned up in their numbers for the biggest Easter jam which saw Onua FM’s DJs, Solution and Larry, play back to back, the various hit songs by Ghanaian and Nigerian artistes, mainly hip life and afro pop. Local rappers and dancers were not left out in the fun as they were also given the opportunity and platform to show their talent. Revelers were given free products like Rush Energy Drink, Nana Takyi Ginger Bitters and Colgate MaxFresh toothpaste and toothbrush as well as branded souvenirs for participating in a number contest. Easter Sunday was feasting time. The feast, dubbed ‘Odo 3didie’, is a major part of the Easter celebration at Gyakiti. It is the period the chief and the people of Gyekiti cook all kinds of local food for revelers to enjoy with great music. The ‘Edziban’ team led by Kwame Dzokoto was at Gyekiti to film the Easter edition of the popular culinary show. Food vendors who lined up the streets were not left out. The event was climaxed in grand style on Easter Monday with the Biggest Volta Lake Beach party. Hundreds of people from near and beyond Gyakiti, Akosombo, Atimpoku, as well as Accra thronged the Gyakiti Lake side for the event, which was headlined by Kidi, one of Ghana’s popular rising artistes. The experienced beach experience was unmatched. While some holidaymakers cruised and swam in the Lake, others played table tennis, beach sports like volley and football among others. Revelers at the end had the greatest opportunity to experience and explore the Volta Lake. For most people who participated in the four-day festival, it was such a great experience that is unrivalled and worth repeating every year. Some patrons also told 3news.com the real experience that will take one from the city hustle and bustle, and get you close to nature is the Onua FM Gyakiti Easter Festival. For the hundreds of patrons, Kwahu Easter is overrated and not as fun as what they experienced at Gyakiti from last Friday to Monday. As one patron puts it: “Gyakiti Easter is your best bet, trust me”. By 3news.com]]>