Ghana has almost lost its sense of purpose - Rawlings

Ex-President Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings has noted at this year’s Hogbetsotso festival that it will take a sense of purpose and belongingness, if a community is to fight crime and injustice.

But he wonders if that sense of unity exist in Ghana today saying " that sense of purpose and unity that binds us together is almost lost on us".

The Hogbetsotso Festival is celebrated by the people of Anlo in the Volta Region of Ghana in the month of November at Anloga, which is the traditional and ritual capital of the Anlo state.

‘Hogbetsotso’ is derived from the word ‘Hogbe’ or ‘Hohogbe’ meaning the day of exodus, a time when the Ewes in the Dogbo quarter of the walled city of Nortsie in Togo liberated themselves from the rule of tyrant King, Torgbui Agorkorli.

The event brought together all the chiefs and elders of Anlo-land at a colourful durbar to mark the annual event in the Volta Region. Some dignitaries at the ceremony included the Minister for Chieftaincy affairs, Dr Henry Seidu Danaa, the Volta Regional Minister, Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, and the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan.

Others were Ambassador Victor Gbeho, Former Bank of Ghana boss, Alex Ashiagbor and former Council of State member, Professor Glover.

President Rawlings who was the special guest of honour at the annual festival held at Anloga on Saturday suggested it will take the combined support of Ghanaians to fight crime, indiscipline, selfishness and other "negative incursion" in society brought about by westernisation.

The ex-president called on Ghanaians to "to wake up" and "confront these negative incursions into our society because they pose serious danger to the very survival of our communities".