Accompong, St Elizabeth — Ghanaian traditional Ashanti priest Nana Kwaku Bonsam joined Maroons in Accompong on January 6 as they celebrated the 277th anniversary of the signing of a treaty that ended decades of warfare with British colonisers.

January 6 is also celebrated by Accompong Maroons as the birthday of legendary Maroon leader Captain Cudjoe (also Kojo) who is credited with negotiating the peace treaty.

Bonsam, who was a special guest at the event, said that most Jamaicans and members of the Ashanti tribe have a similar culture.

“All the Africans must unite, all the people must unite,” he said, adding that he believes that in the future the Accompong celebration will attract increasing numbers.

As is customary, the celebrations in Accompong took the form of a civic ceremony, traditional Maroon rituals and commercial activities with scores of vendors lining the roadway with their wares.

Highlights this year included the handing over of keys for the new library at Accompong Primary School, which will soon be officially opened.