Chiefs and people of Anlo display rich culture … four new chiefs are out-doored

By:  Samuel Agbewode
The chiefs and people of Anlo have displayed the rich cultural heritage of the area with drumming and dancing at a ceremony to outdoor four newly-installed chiefs of the area at Srogbe in the Keta Municipality, where tradition was at the center of activities to showcase the traditional practices of the people.

Some of the traditional music played was atsiagbekor, agbadza and atrikpui, which attracted hundreds of people, as both the young and old openly danced to the various musical tunes.

Addressing a large gathering, the Chairman of the Council of State, Prof. Kofi Awoonor, who chaired the function, stressed the need for the people, particularly the youth, to embrace the rich cultural practices of their areas, and refrain from engaging in negative practices that would not promote their growth and development.

Prof. Awoonor expressed concern over the increasing number of cases of drug abuse among the youth, which he said, was very unfortunate, because such negative practices would rather destroy them, but that they should be more serious and take their education more seriously, since it was the only key to their success in the future.

He pointed out that education was the only way through which the youth could become responsible adults in future, and also urged parents to take matters concerning the education of their wards more seriously by investing hugely in their education.

He noted that it was equally important for pupils and students to learn hard, in order to justify the investment their parents were making in them.

The Chairman of the Council of State asked the newly out-doored chiefs not to lord their positions over the people, and close their ranks as they work closely with the people to promote development activities in their respective areas.

He added that as chiefs, they should be development-oriented, and stay far from things that would undermine the existing peace in their areas.

The Chief of Alakple, Torgbui Kporku, who has spent 33 years on the throne as a traditional ruler, said, as one of the oldest chiefs of Anlo, he learnt that living in peace with one another was the key to any form of development in society, and urged the people to embrace peace, as well as live in peace at all times with each other.

Torgbui Kporku, who touched on the comment made by the Member of Parliament for Assin North Constituency, Mr. Kennedy Agyapong, which declared war against Ewes and Gas, said the people of the Volta Region would respond to anybody or group of people who intended to undermined the peace of the country.

Torgbui Kporku said the people of the Volta Region would live and read the obituary of those he described as 'congenital lunatics' in the country, stressing that the Ewes would not carry guns or any weapon, but would emerged victorious, because God would fight for them, and that the Ewes are noted for their courage and would not be disturbed by threats.

The new chiefs include Torgbui Nyaho Tamekloe, the left wing chief of Wuti, Torgbui Tsikata Agbodzi, Chief of Srogbe, Torgbui Age, Chief of Genui, Torgbui Agbeve, Chief of Adzato, and Mama Biana of Srogbe, with a number of traditional rulers in attendance.

Present at the function were former President Rawlings, the Ambassador to Malaysia, Mr. Dan Abodakpi, Capt. Tsikata (rtd), and the District Chief Executive of Adaklu-Anyigbe, Mr. Michael Adzaho among other prominent personalities.