The chiefs and people of the Adaklu-Anyigbe District made history on Saturday when they met to celebrate the Agbamevorza or Kente Festival at Agotime Kpetoe.

The chiefs of the three traditional areas who have been feuding over the sitting of the district capital at Kpetoe buried whatever anger they harboured within them and joined hands for the celebration.

The traditional areas are Ziope, Kpetoe and Adaklu.

The occasion was used to remember their ancestors and re-unite with families. The occasion which attracted investors and tourists was aimed at deliberating on the development agenda irrespective of people’s political affiliation towards the socio-economic development of the new district which is yearning to earn a municipal status.

Large and colourful retinue of the chiefs from the three traditional areas was unprecedented. The occasion was to celebrate the 11th anniversary of Nene Nuer Keteku III, Konor of Agotime and the Silver Youth Club of Agotime which was on the theme: "Peace and Unity for development

"The theme was appropriate since it brought together the chiefs, queen mothers, elders’ and youth of the 33 Adaklu Anyigbe communities who joined people of Agotime-Kpetoe to celebrate the 11th anniversary of the festival which coincided with the Ghana @ 50 celebration.

Cultural performances by various troupes including Kinka, Ziope, Unity, El-shaddai, Mawuetu, Senam and Abenyinase put the large crowd in a festive mood and with the exhibition hall filled to capacity the security services had a hectic time controlling the crowd who surged forward to see the colourful designs of the Agotime kente.

Addressing the large crowd interjected by cheers, Nene Keteku noted that the festival is not to showcase the Kente cloth but a visual representation of history, philosophy, moral values, oral tradition of the area and projecting the identity of Ghanaians and also present a lifeline to the people whose livelihood hinged on the kente industry.

"The festival is also to put Agotime and the Adaklu-Anyigbe district into the orbit of eco-cultural tourism to yield positive results," he stressed.

He stressed on the need for the people of the district to maintain relative peace, unity and live in harmony as well as support government to create wealth to alleviate poverty in the area.

Nene Keteku appealed to the government to set up a small scale factory in Agotime to process tomato that is produced in abundance in the area to encourage the youth to sustain farming activities.

He urged the United States and the Ghanaian government to support the Silver Youth Club to put up a library complex and Information and Communication Technology facility for the youth of the area.

Mr. Chris Hodges, Public Affairs Officer at the United States Embassy in Ghana, stressed on the need for the producers of Kente to take advantage of the multi lateral African Growth and Opportunity Act to enhance the growth of the nation.

He lauded the efforts of the people for promoting the unique Kente cloth on the global market.

Mrs. Juliana Azumah-Mensah, Member of Parliament, urged traditional authorities in the area to unite so as to explore avenues to market Kente on the international market.

Mr. Mawuli Dabe, District Chief Executive for Adaklu, Anyigbe appealed to the people to rally behind the assembly to enable the infant district deliver the best governmental programmes, and projects.

Togbega Gbogbi Atsa V, paramount chief of Adaklu, Traditional Area, who chaired the function, pledged his traditional area’s support towards oneness and unity of purpose to move the district forward.

Source: The Ghanaian Times