Ve celebrates Dodoleglime festival

Accra, Nov. 23, GNA - The Chiefs and people of Ve Traditional Area in the Hohoe District of the Volta Region have begun the celebration of the "Dodoleglime" festival, scheduled for November 22 to 29.

Dodoleglime, which in Ewe literally means coming out of the wall, marks the escape of the people from the tyrannical rule of Togbe Agorkoli of Notsie in the 17th century.

The celebration is also in commemoration of the leading role played by the people in the secret escape through a hole they dug in the wall that was built to contain the subjects of Togbe Agorkoli.

Mr John Ackah, President of Lukusi Improvement Society (LIS), Ve youth association, who briefed the GNA on the programme of activities, said a grand durbar would be organised at Ve Golokuati to climax the festival on Saturday, November 27.

He said the valour of the people of Ve in breaking the wall for others to escape from ancient Notsie, now in the Republic of Togo, could not just be marked in modern times without tackling current development issues that confronted the people.

Consequently, there would be fund raising activities to beef up the reserve of the Ve Educational Endowment Fund, established about three years ago from which about 30 pupils and students are benefiting. Mr Ackah said the first three days of the festival would be devoted for intensive education on the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the eight communities of the area.

Other activities include gala soccer match, a dance and the crowning of Miss Lukusi 2004, to be sponsored by Accra Brewery Limited. Mr Ackah said Ve, a predominantly farming area, was crying for development and that the people's own contributions and levies were not enough to support socio-economic projects to prevent the youth from drifting to the urban areas for non-existing jobs.

He appealed to non-governmental organisations and investors to take advantage of the vast tourims potentials and fertile lands in the area by investing so as to raise the people's standard of living.