By Emmanuel Nyatsikor
Adaklu Kodzobi (V/R), Nov. 20 GNA – The chiefs and people of Adaklu-Kodzobi in the Adaklu District of the Volta Region over the weekend marked the 40th anniversary of Bliza (Corn Festival).
It was on the theme: “Forty Years Journey : Building the capacity of the youth through quality education for development”, and served as homecoming for hundreds of natives.
Togbe Dzegblade IV, Chief of the town, stated his resolve to rally the people for the rapid socio-economic development of the farming community.
He said it was the responsibility of chiefs to bring development to their community and champion the welfare of their people and said he remained committed to that pledge.
Togbe Dzegblade called for support from the people to open the area up for growth and cautioned the youth against folding their arms and waiting on government for projects.
He said it was time chiefs in the Volta Region pooled resources to create jobs for the youth and said he was ready for such engagements.
Madam Juliana Kpedekpo, Adaklu District Chief Executive, said development was a collaborative work and commended the chiefs and the people for their self-help projects.
She said education in recent times when attained strategically, affected every facet of the lives of people positively and urged the youth to take education serious.
The DCE stated that government since 2017 had initiated numerous initiatives and programmes targeted at the total development of the youth and urged them to take advantage of such interventions.
Madam Kpedekpo mentioned some of the youth intervention programmes as National Entrepreneurship Programme and YouStart initiatives.
The DCE said the Adaklu District Assembly was making efforts to ensure the provision of social amenities like water, electricity, roads and markets to the people and appealed to them to regularly pay their fees and rates to the Assembly.
Mr. Kwame Agbodza, Member of Parliament for Adaklu, in an address delivered on his behalf, urged the people to live in peace and pray ceasingly for the country to “rise again on its feet” .
Mr. Matthew Wormenor, Chairman of the Bliza Planning Committee, said: “The festival, which started like a mustard seed in 1983 to thank God for a bumper corn harvest after the 1983 drought and hunger and also honour corn for being the foodstuff that ended their hunger had blossomed to become one of the biggest festivals in the Adaklu district.
The festival attracted chiefs and people from Tsrukpe, Woadze, Goviefe, Awudome Tsito, Abutia Kloe, Hodzo, Ahunda Kpodzi, Ho Bankoe and other communities in the Adaklu district.
Over 40,000 Ghana Cedis was realised during an appeal for funds for the completion of the Community’s information Centre project.
GNA