All Set For Hogbetsotso

All is set for the grand celebration of this year's Hogbetsotso Festival of the chiefs and people of Anlo in the Volta Region. The week-long celebration, which will be climaxed by a grand durbar at Anloga tomorrow, will offer an opportunity to showcase the efforts being made to unify the people, as well as accelerate the pace of socio-economic development and improve the well-being of the people.

The festival, on the theme, “In unity we build”, will be graced by traditional leaders from other ethnic groupings in the country, as well as the Republics of Togo and Benin.

Cultural and ritual displays (amlimatsitsi) and a drama to depict the exodus of the Ewes from Notsie in Togo to Anlo, among other activities, are currently ongoing at Anloga.

A member of the Hogbetsotso Planning Committee, Mr Prosper Afealete, told the Daily Graphic in a telephone interview that the rather peaceful Anloga township was agog with activities and fun in preparation for the climax tomorrow.

He said most of the hotels and rest houses in the area had been booked, while business activities were also booming.

He expressed optimism that the festival would open up the area for potential investors, as well as serve as a platform to initiate development projects in the areas of education, agriculture and health.

The acting Awoamefia and President of the Anlo Traditional Council, Regent Togbi Sri III, confirmed the council's readiness to “hold a peaceful and successful festival aimed at uniting and developing the people of the area”.

He said the Hogbe Development Trust Fund had, within two years, offered scholarships to three students in tertiary institutions in the country, with others being sponsored outside the country.