The Oyibi Divisional Council has withdrawn an initial declaration of Friday 30th September as a public holiday within the Oyibi township as part of their Yam Festival.
In the first letter announcing the declaration, signed by the Secretary of the Council, Enoch Alabi Nyomonwoko, it stated that “Friday, 30th September, which marks a significant day in the history of Oyibi Land, “Oyibi YELE YELI” (OYIBI YAM FESTIVAL) is a holiday and, as such, should be observed as such throughout the entire Oyibi community only.”
However, following widespread disagreements from several quarters, particularly businesses, residents, and schools within the enclave, the council has unreservedly retracted the supposed declaration in a new statement.
The statement signed by the Council Secretary said: “I wish to apologise to the entire citizens living in any part of the Oyibi community and the general public for releasing such a communiqué, and I seek that such information should be disregarded.”
The reasons for the declaration and subsequent u-turn are unclear, but The Sikaman Times sources indicated that there was a planned firing of musketry as part of the festival, which the council elders believed could endanger the public.
Our sources further reveal that the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council had stepped in to get the Oyibi Divisional Council to reverse the holiday declaration.
