Adidome: The Anlo Dukor Council, in collaboration with the Mafi Traditional Council, has celebrated a Mini Hogbetsotso festival at Adidome in the Central Tongu District of the Volta Region, to strengthen unity among Ewe-speaking communities and promote cultural preservation and development.
According to Ghana News Agency, the annual event was themed ‘Building Bridges: From Common History to a Common Destiny,’ and it brought together traditional authorities, cultural groups, government officials, opinion leaders, and residents from across Anlo and Mafi. The aim was to reaffirm the shared ancestral bond that ties Ewes together as one people.
Professor Ferdinand Makafui Ahiakpor, Chairman of the event, stated that the celebration served as a platform to revive the spirit of togetherness among Ewes and to promote collective socio-cultural and developmental aspirations. He called on all stakeholders to support efforts aimed at sustaining unity and peace.
Togbe Agbesi Awusu II, the Awadada of Anlo, who represented the Awomefia, Togbe Sri III, commended the people of Mafi for their reception and hospitality. He emphasized that the unity between the Anlo and Mafi people remained strong and must be protected for future generations. Togbe Awusu highlighted that the Mini Hogbetsotso was not only a remembrance of the historic escape from Notsie but also an opportunity to celebrate and preserve Ewe cultural heritage, including traditional music, dance, cuisine, and symbols of identity.
Togbe Buatri Asafo IV, Acting President of the Mafi Traditional Council, noted that hosting the festival further affirmed the enduring bond of kinship and mutual respect between the two traditional areas. He said the collaboration presented an opportunity to promote cultural exchange and scale up partnerships in trade, education, tourism, and community development.
Togbe Kwasinyi Kakaklolo Agyemang V, the Dufia of Adidome, stated that the diversity of Ewe communities across different traditional jurisdictions should be viewed as a strategic asset for strengthening regional influence and development. He said the celebration demonstrated the unity that, when nurtured, could inspire progress and enhance the voice of the Ewe people in national discourse.
Mr James Gunu, the Volta Regional Minister and Guest of Honour, expressed delight at the renewed efforts to unify Ewes across traditional boundaries. He highlighted that unity among Ewe communities would promote coordinated development planning, cultural tourism, and mobilization for grassroots economic empowerment. He urged chiefs to work collectively and avoid divisions that weaken traditional authority and derail development efforts.
Mr Alexander Roosevelt Hotordze, the Member of Parliament of Central Tongu, noted that the Mini Hogbetsotso would help dismantle long-standing traditional boundaries that hinder developmental collaboration. He said unity among Ewes remained key to harnessing shared strengths for educational, agricultural, and economic advancement.
The event featured traditional drumming and dancing, cultural displays, performances by Asafo groups, and reaffirmation of inter-clan and inter-state ties.