Agorhokpo celebrates maiden Dunenyo Za festival, appeals for road construction

The people of Agorhokpo in the Agotime-Ziope District of the Volta Region have held the maiden edition of their Dunenyo Za festival, an initiative aimed at strengthening community unity and promoting development.

The festival, formerly known as AziZa (Groundnut Festival), was rebranded as Dunenyo Za to reflect the community’s wider development ambitions beyond its agricultural heritage.

Agorhokpo is among the communities in the district that have benefited from development interventions by Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), particularly World Vision Ghana, as well as support from the area’s Member of Parliament. Apart from projects undertaken by the Assembly, including a Community Health Centre and school blocks, residents attribute a significant portion of the community’s development progress to NGO interventions and the MP’s assistance.

The inaugural celebration, held on Saturday, October 31, 2026, also served as a fundraising platform for the construction of a multi-purpose community centre. The proposed facility is expected to provide a suitable venue for public and social events while reducing the cost of organising community programmes.

The celebration also featured the commissioning of a corn mill secured through the intervention of the Member of Parliament for Agotime-Ziope, Hon. Charles Agbeve. The facility is expected to spare residents the inconvenience of travelling to Agortime Kpetoe to mill corn for household consumption and other purposes.

A newly constructed Community Information Centre, facilitated by the MP, was also commissioned, alongside a community football park. The new park was developed after the previous one was released to make way for the Community Health Centre, which was recently constructed by the Assembly and equipped by World Vision Ghana.

Speaking in an interview, the Chairman of the Festival Planning Committee, Hon. Emmanuel Adorble, a former Assembly Member for the Akwetey Electoral Area, recognised the MP’s contributions to the community but called for urgent attention to the road linking Agortime Kpetoe to Agorhokpo.

He appealed to the MP and the government, through the District Assembly, to facilitate the construction of the road to improve access to the community.

The current Assembly Member for the area, Hon. Jimmy Adewu, also praised the MP for responding to the needs of residents. He, however, urged the Assembly, the MP and the central government to prioritise roads and other outstanding development challenges facing the community.

Addressing the gathering at the durbar, Hon. Agbeve commended the residents for their commitment to community development and their willingness to undertake self-help initiatives.

He said the community’s collective efforts had helped attract support from organisations such as World Vision, which provided potable water, and a group within the Catholic Church that supported the construction of school blocks.

The MP singled out the traditional leadership, particularly Togbe Agbale II, Chief of Agorhokpo, for his continued efforts to lobby for development projects and advance the interests of the community.

On the road concern, Hon. Agbeve assured residents that the Agortime Kpetoe–Agorhokpo road would receive attention. He disclosed that the chief had made several representations to the authorities on the matter and pledged to work towards ensuring that construction begins before the next Dunenyo Za celebration.

He further announced that, through the support of World Vision, the community’s school would soon be upgraded into a model school.

Hon. Agbeve also reaffirmed his commitment to establishing a maternity ward at the newly commissioned health centre, indicating that the facility would be opened before the next festival. He said equipment for the ward had already been procured.

As part of his contribution to the festival and the proposed community centre project, the MP donated GH¢10,000.00 and 4 sets of streetlights to enhance security and improve visibility at night.

He also presented 2 streetlights to nearby Azametikorfe when he visited the community to extend his greetings. The donation followed an appeal by residents, who said their only borehole had been damaged and was producing water with an unpleasant odour, raising concerns about its safety for consumption.

The MP additionally encouraged farmers in Agorhokpo to visit his office to access fertiliser support and pledged to work towards securing further assistance for the community.