'Without peace, there can be no progress' - Doe Adjaho

The chiefs and people of the seven communities comprising the Avatime State have rounded off their 2024 annual Avatime Amu (Brown Rice) Festival with a grand durbar held at Avatime Gbadzeme in the Ho-West District of the Volta Region.

The colorful durbar, bringing together people from all walks of life, served as the climax of activities commemorating this year’s festival that portrayed thrilling traditional performances representing the rich cultural heritage of Avatime indigenes.

The 2024 Avatime Amu Festival also served as a platform for homecoming for Avatime citizens domiciled in Ghana and the diaspora was held on the theme, “Sustaining Avatime as a climate resilient community through brown rice production, culture and eco-tourism.”

Addressing the enthusiastic crowd at the durbar event, a former Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho, representing former President John Dramani Mahama as the Special Guest of Honour, underscored the need for Ghanaians to preserve peace and stability in the country during this year’s general elections scheduled for December, noting that “without peace, there can be no progress.”

The former Speaker of Parliament also urged Ghanaians to guard against acts of violence and mayhem, while ensuring vigilance during the period of casting votes to avert a repeat of chaotic incidences that cost the lives of innocent citizens and marred the voting processes in parts of the country during the 2020 general elections.

“It is expected of us as patriotic citizens to ensure this year’s election is conducted smoothly, cognizance of the fact that sustainable development can only thrive in an atmosphere of peace and stability,” he remarked.

The Paramount Chief of Avatime, Osie Adza Tekpor VII, whose address was read on his behalf by the Chief of Avatime Dzokpe, Okusie Kpornuglo X, expressed regret at the frequency of divisions, animosity and disagreements among the ranks of some prominent families and clans in some Avatime communities as a result of chieftaincy issues; cautioning, that the consequences of destabilizing the peace and unity of a community are detrimental to development.

“Let us take a cue from some communities in Ghana, and desist from succumbing to the deceptions and influences of few individuals. We should not allow ourselves to fall victims to needless adversities, cynicism and disputes for the selfish gains of troublemakers,” he further warned.

Osie Adza Tekpor urged citizens of Avatime to be guided by the tenets of loyalty, socio-cultural values, and the bond of unity in diversity bequeathed to them by the ancestral forbearers, and ensure the preservation of peaceful co-existence in their respective communities.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Chief of Avatime Gbadzeme, Okusie Okorforobour Agyemang VII, expressed disappointment at the poor road infrastructure in the area, even though Avatime abounds with attractive tourism sites and agriculture production.

He appealed to the government or whichever government that will assume administration of the country in January 2025 to make, as a matter of priority and urgency, rehabilitation of the 5-kilometer stretch of Gbadzeme to Fume road as well as a CHPS compound at Gbadzeme.

This year’s Avatime Amu Festival is the 13th edition since the restoration of the Festival to be celebrated on a rotational basis among the seven Avatime communities, name Vane, Amedzofe, Gbadzeme, Dzokpe, Fume, Biakpa and Dzogbefeme.

This festival was aimed at reinforcing the bond of unity among the Avatime indigenes while its positioning on the national and international radar of reputable traditional festivals in Ghana.

AE