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| Togbe Afede |
A durbar of chiefs and people of Asogli has taken place on Saturday at the Ho Jubilee Park to climax this year’s Asogli Yam Festival the celebrations.
The durbar saw the showcasing of the rich cultural dexterity of the four traditional areas forming Asogli, which include Akoefe, Ho, Kpenoe and Takla.
The festival attracted Ewes from the Republic of Togo, led by Togbe Agokoli IV, Ewefiaga as well as local and foreign tourists, chiefs and some members of the diplomatic corps.
A high powered government delegation led by Vice President Kwesi Amissah Arthur was also in attendance.
Addressing the gathering on the theme “Let’s make our nation great and strong,” Togbe Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia of Asogli State said Ghana could “bounce back” as a strong nation should the “right system and spirit” be developed.
According to him, the current challenges confronting the nation could be corrected if the right systems and spirit is developed through truthful leadership and patriotic citizenship.
“Notwithstanding our current difficulties as a nation, if we can develop the right system and the right spirit, our situation will correct itself, and we shall bounce back and forge a path towards greatness, as envisaged by our founding fathers,” he added.
He said building a great nation is a process, which involves the construction of “right systems” using the power of the State to unite and inspire the people, to contribute towards the building of a politically and economically stable and viable nation.
The Agbogbomefia called the appointment of ‘hard working men and women, who value truth and honour, with demonstrated capabilities’ into public office to ensure national progress.
Togbe Afede also bemoaned the acrimonious nature party politics in the country and called for its redirection on development instead of its preoccupation of only winning elections.
He urged government to intensify the fight against corruption and create opportunities for all, in accordance with provisions in the country’s constitution.
“All ethnic groups must be convinced about government’s commitment to fairness in the allocation of limited opportunities and resources available” he noted.
On the increasing spate of strikes in the country, Togbe Afede who is also the president of the Volta regional of Chiefs noted that ‘the practice of paying people while they are on strike creates a win-win situation that encourages strikes.. it is about time strikers lose any right to pay while they are on strike. This will minimize the resort to strikes as weapon in labour negotiations.’
Vice President Amissah Arthur in his address underscored the importance of the celebration of festivals and expressed happiness that such festive occasions provide new ways of improving the livelihood of the populace.
He said the theme for the celebration summed up the intentions of Togbe Afede to the traditional area and the country.
Vice President Ammisah – Arthur reiterated government commitment to the completion of the eastern corridor road project, which he said have been repackaged with new funding.
He also reassured the gathering of the completion of other projects in the region, including work on the Ho-Adaklu-Accra road, the Ho library and Centre for National Culture projects.
On Ebola and cholera, the Vice President said government is ensuring best standard in public health and urged the citizenry to be guided by proper environmental health practices.
The festival is celebrated mainly as thanksgiving to God, and also to the gods and ancestors for bumper harvest and to offer prayers for good health and prosperity for all.
It is also serves an annual stocktaking event for all occupational endeavours, used in mobilising human and material resources of Asogli State for job and wealth creation and serves as an annual re-affirmation of allegiance by chiefs and their subjects in the Asogli State to the Agbogbome stool.
