By Ahedor Jessica
More than 28 thousand people have thronged the Anlo’s traditional Capital Anloga to climax the 2019 Hogbetsotsoza in a colourful style. To many observers and partakers of the festival, this year’s celebration was rated more successful than previous ones. The colourful ceremony saw a magical, spiritual, and Cultural display of Anlo-ewe values that thrilled the participants from the beginning to the end.
The crowd made up of both Traditional Rulers, and government delegations, the public, Anlo citizens from the diaspora, foreigners and friends of Anlo took part in celebrating the well-attended occasion.
The Awomefia of Anlo, Torgbui Sri III affirmed the unity between Anlos and the Asantes, emphasizing “Our unity is forever.” Research on Anlo-Ewe history has it that, the two tribes signed a unity treaty in 1865 to be each other’s keeper and charged Anlos and Ashantis in Ghana and abroad to work together as brothers to enable the build Ghana.
The Awomefia stressed Anlo state commitment to champion the unity for the rapid socio-economic development of the two tribes and their people.
On education, he commended the government for its Free Senior High School policy and appealed for the fixing of roads in the Anlo State, address water challenges, construct the Keta Harbour and establish a tomato factory in Anlo under the One District, One Factory initiative to prevent postharvest loses experienced by the people in the area.
The special guest Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, in an address read on his behalf by the Mamponghene, said the exchange of visits and interactions by the two leaders were to reaffirm their union for “peace and orderly development of the two great regions and the country at large, Adding the two tribes had vowed never to wage war against each other, instead, support one another. He bemoaned the failure on the part of historians who have failed in recognizing the peace-building efforts by the two tribes in pre-independence struggles. The Asantehene recounted the collaborative efforts that saw Ashantis and Ewes work together to change the course of Ghana’s history, and underscored the need to ward off elements trying to sow seeds of disunity between the two. The Asantehene later presented assorted items including kente and drinks to the Awomefia.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in an address read on his behalf commended the Asantehene and Awomefia for building on the unity of the two tribes and restated government’s commitment to fulfilling its promises to the Anlo State and meeting the desire of the people in getting a fishing harbour and a port. He said works on roads in the country would commence soon simultaneously and that government is very much aware of the economic importance of roads and would not deny Ghanaians access to motorable roads.
This year’s celebration attracted several delegations, chiefs from Notsie, in the republic of Togo, government officials led by Mr Kan Dapaah, Minister for National Security, former Presidents Jerry John Rawlings and John Dramani Mahama.
