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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.
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