Dodome Traditional Area to celebrate Agadzi festival after a long break

The Chiefs and people of Dodome Traditional Area in the Ho West District of the Volta Region have launched the 2024 Agadzi Festival, which is to be celebrated in November 2024.

The celebration of the festival was stalled for more than a decade due to division.

However, traditional rulers of all the six communities that formed the Dodome traditional area agreed to revisit the celebration to reinforce development and unity.

The festival is mainly expected to bring socio-economic development and unity among the chiefs and people of the area.

It is also aimed to encourage citizens of the area to commit themselves to the development of the enclave.

Speaking at the launching ceremony held in Ho on Saturday, August 31, 2024, the Paramount Chief of the area, Togbega Kpangbatriku IV, called for unity, commitment, and development in the traditional area.

He also urged citizens of the area to avail themselves of the unity and development of the Dodome Traditional Area, adding that young people in the enclave should give the necessary honour to the elderly.

Togbega also cautioned the people against actions and inactions that will lead to disunity. He also used the occasion to call for a peaceful election in the December elections.

He then asked his subjects to welcome any political party that would visit them but carefully examine their (political parties) policies before voting.

The Paramount Chief prayed for a successful celebration devoid of conflict and also encouraged citizens of the area, home and abroad, to avail themselves of the celebration.

Chairman of the occasion, Gift Kofi Tsamah, said the festival is expected to also showcase the area's potential in tourism, enhance healthcare and education, and create job opportunities to reduce rural-urban migration.

He said the traditional area is among deprived communities in the region that needed attention.

He called for investors to explore agricultural opportunities in the area to create jobs for the teeming youth.

Dodome Traditional Area has an arable landscape suitable for large-scale farming.

The area has the largest cultivation of tropical foods in the Ho Central and Ho West districts. The area also has mountains suitable for hiking and rainforests housing wildlife.

The chairman for the occasion who is an indigene of Dodome-Awuiasu and a humanitarian in the Ho West District, further noted that the festival will be celebrated annually and will be rotational in all six communities.

He reiterated the call for unity and commitment.

Mr. Tsamah, however, urged young people in the area to prioritise education and remember to be good citizens.

The six communities that formed the traditional enclave are Avexa, Awuiasu, Dogblome, Tsikor, Taleafenu, and Awlime, making up the paramountcy.

This year's festival is under the theme: "Unity, Commitment and Development."

The festival will be celebrated within the second week of November, starting from November 4 to 10, 2024, with the grand durbar on Saturday, November 9, 2024.