Anlo Youth Council launches 2024 Hogbetsotso festival

The Awadada Togbui Awusi II, in a chat with the Dufia of Alakple Togbui Amey Zegu II, after the launch

This year’s Hogbetsotso festival of the Chiefs and people of Anlo in the Volta Region was launched on last Saturday at Tsiame in the Keta Municipality.

The festival, to be climaxed with a grand durbar on Saturday, November 2, is under the theme, ‘Strengthening Bonds andEmbracing Our Shared Values.’

Activities planned for the celebrations includes a mini durbar- Alakple on October 25, sports and quiz competitions among schools, general cleaning(Dorere),beauty contest to unearth Mama Hogbe 2024,health walk and free health screening in all 36 Anlo communities.

This year’s festival, spearheaded by the Anlo Youth Council, is a marked departure from previous events led by the Chiefs in order to give the youth the greater opportunity to have a say in the development of their respective communities.

The Awadada of the Anlo state, Togbu Aggesi Awusi 11 speaking at the ceremony, said the time had come for the youth of Anlo to be given the opportunity to play active role in the historical events of their ancestors.

That, he explained, was the only way to bequeath a lasting historical legacy for generations yet to be born.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunication, Ken Ashigbey, speaking at the ceremony stated that reviving the rich culture and traditions among the younger generation was essential because children of today are growing up disconnected from history, missing the valuable lessons and pride from understanding who they are and where they come from.

He called for more engagements to have the youth actively in learning the Ewe language and culture, to ensure that traditions are preserved and flourished in the hearts of the upcoming generations.

 From Lawrence Vomafa-Akpalu, Tsiame