See-Through Dresses, Drugs Tarnishing Kwahu Easter – Historian Warns

Renowned retired educationist and historian, Philip Kwaku Opoku Asiamah, widely known as Prof. Akasanoma, has sounded a strong warning about growing moral decay during the Kwahu Easter celebrations.

Speaking in an interview with Kwame Tanko on Lawson TV/Radio at Obomeng, he condemned the increasing trend of indecent dressing, drug abuse, and theft, describing them as threats to the legacy of the 149-year-old festival.

“See-through and half-naked dresses are not part of our culture. Such exposure belongs in private spaces, not public gatherings,” Prof. Akasanoma stressed. He urged young women and the youth, in particular, to respect cultural values and protect the dignity of Kwahu’s most celebrated tradition.

He traced the roots of Kwahu Easter back to 1876, when Presbyterian missionaries, Rev. Phersagar and Rev. Ramsay, first introduced the celebration. “It was never originally a Kwahu festival. It was a Christian event that the people of Kwahu later embraced and made their own,” he revealed. The festival will mark its 150th anniversary in 2026.

Beyond religion, Easter in Kwahu has become a major homecoming and economic event. According to the historian, churches overflow, traditionalists return to their roots, and the celebration boosts local businesses, attracts weddings, and even becomes a platform for political campaigns.

However, Prof. Akasanoma believes the growing influence of indecency and vices is overshadowing the event’s historical and spiritual significance. “We are gradually losing the meaning of Kwahu Easter. Let’s go back to modesty and discipline,” he pleaded.

He also noted that Obomeng has now taken center stage in the celebrations, overtaking older hubs like Nkwatia and Bukruwa.

As Kwahu prepares for a historic 150-year Easter milestone, Prof. Akasanoma’s message is clear: celebrate with pride, not with shame.