News
Asogli Traditional Council launches yam festival
Chiefs and people of Asogli at the lauching ceremony of the 2024 Asogli yam festival.
The Asogli Traditional Council (ATC) in the Ho Municipality of the Volta Region, has launched this year’s ‘Teza’ (yam festival) at a short and impressive ceremony in Ho under the theme, ‘Let’s Ensure Freedom and Justice for All.’
The launch showed the rich tradition and culture of the people of Asogli, which included the traditional ‘asafo’ music and dance, zigi and the ‘wuga’ dance which ushered in the chiefs of the Asogli Traditional Area into the mood of celebration to mark the festive period.
The activities earmarked for the festival is unique as compared to the previous celebrations with interesting programmes such as health-walk, health screening and exploring Galenku Mountain to Akoefe added.
Launching the festival, the Yam Festival Coordinator (YFC), Squadron Leader (retired),MrEvarestusCincinDargbe, said the festival was strategically programmed for the people, particularly the youth to learn much about the culture and tradition of the people of Asogli and the ‘Ewes’ in general.
MrDargbenoted that the celebration would start today with a grand durbar on October 5 to climax the celebration and a thanksgiving service slated for October 6 to honour God for a bumper harvest.
He said there would be a pilgrimage to the ancestral home of Asogli and Ewes in the Republic of Togo on September 6-8, climbing of Adaklu mountain, women’s day celebration, and anti-corruption day forum to educate the residents, particularly the youth on the need to be patriotic citizens.
According to him, the Agbogbomefia of Asogli Traditional Area, TogbeAfede XIV, would entertain children in the area, by organising a special party at his residence and a special programme on youth employment and entrepreneurship day at the Ho Technical University (HTU) on September 24.
There would also be a football gala, choral music night, marathon, a special borborborand a lunch with TogbeAfede.
The festival coordinator stressed that there would be a summit of Ewe chiefs from Ghana, the Republic of Togo and Benin, with TogbeAfede siting-in- state on October 4 and many others.
From Samuel Agbewode, Ho
The Majority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, says Parliament and government officials are working closely with authorities in the Netherlands following the detention of the Member of Parliament for Asante Akyem North, Kwame Ohene Frimpong.
Speaking on the matter on Channel One news yesterday, Mr. Dafeamekpor disclosed that the MP was detained at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam on Sunday while travelling on a private trip.
According to him, Mr. Frimpong personally informed him about the incident around 5 a.m. on the day of the arrest.
He said the issue was immediately escalated to parliamentary leadership and other state officials for intervention.
Mr. Dafeamekpor explained that the Majority Leader, who was in transit at Heathrow Airport in London at the time, travelled to Schiphol to engage the detained MP and better understand the situation.
He added that the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ghana’s Ambassador to The Hague, the Attorney General, the Speaker of Parliament and the Clerk to Parliament had all been involved in efforts to address the matter.
According to him, a Ghanaian lawyer based in The Hague and qualified to practise there has also been engaged to represent the MP.
“The lawyer is dealing with the issues, but let me confirm that he is fine,” Mr. Dafeamekpor stated.
He noted that Parliament and the legal team were still waiting for official documents, including an authenticated copy of the arrest warrant and other details from Dutch prosecutors handling the matter.
The South Dayi MP therefore urged the media and the public to avoid speculation until all facts surrounding the case are confirmed.
“We want to urge all the media houses not to be throwing in things that have not been confirmed,” he said.
Mr. Dafeamekpor further explained that Parliament’s involvement was partly because the MP was travelling with a diplomatic passport.
He noted that extradition and detention cases involving political figures are not uncommon internationally, citing examples such as former Chilean leader Augusto Pinochet and Julian Assange.
According to him, authorities are hopeful the matter can be resolved for the MP to return to Ghana safely.
He appealed to the MP’s family, colleagues in Parliament and the public to remain calm while diplomatic and legal processes continue.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana Water Ltd has announced temporary water supply interruptions in several parts of western Accra following technical challenges at the Weija Water Treatment Plant.
In a press release issued on May 13, the company explained that the challenges had affected water production and distribution in some communities.
According to the management of the company, residents in areas including Dansoman, Mamprobi, Mataheko, Laterbiokorshie, Korle Bu, La Paz, MacCarthy Hill, Gbawe, Mallam, Tesano, Darkuman, North Kaneshie, Dome, Achimota, Anyaa and Ablekuma may experience low water pressure and erratic water supply.
Management noted that engineers and technical teams were working to fix the problem and restore normal water supply as soon as possible.
The company advised consumers to store water whenever there is flow in their communities in order to manage the temporary disruption.
It urged essential service providers to contact their Assembly Members or the Ghana Water Ltd Call Centre for assistance.
The company apologized to customers affected by the situation and appealed for calm and cooperation while efforts continue to resolve the challenge.
By: Jacob Aggrey
