By Emmanuel Nyatsikor
Adaklu Kodzobi (V/R), July 26, GNA – The chiefs and people of Adaklu Kodzobi in the Adaklu District of the Volta Region on Saturday launched the 44th edition of the Bliza (Corn Festival) amid pomp and pageantry.
The festival, instituted in September 1983, was established to thank God for a bumper corn harvest following a prolonged drought and famine that year.
It also celebrates corn as the first crop harvested after the drought, which helped bring an end to the famine.
Over the years, the festival has been repackaged to serve as a platform for mobilising resources for community development and has grown into one of the major traditional festivals in the Volta Region.
The annual celebration attracts chiefs, residents and visitors from the Volta, Eastern and Greater Accra regions, as well as neighbouring Togo.
Speaking at the launch, Togbe Dzegblade IV, Dufia of Adaklu Kodzobi, called on citizens to embrace the spirit of self-help and actively contribute to the development of the community.
He said communities should take responsibility for initiating and executing development projects rather than relying solely on government support.
Togbe Dzegblade disclosed that construction of the community’s one-storey Information Centre was nearing completion and announced that efforts would soon be directed towards the construction of a proposed community centre.
He therefore appealed to citizens and friends of the community to contribute generously towards the project.
The Dufia also commended the Government and the Adaklu District Assembly for ongoing development projects in the community, including the construction of a six-unit teachers’ bungalow and a three-unit classroom block with offices and a staff common room.
“This is the first time the community is benefitting from a fully government-funded project, and I commend the Government and the Adaklu District Assembly for it,” he said.
Mr Matthew Wormenor, Chairman of the Festival Planning Committee, told the Ghana News Agency that several activities had been lined up for the week-long celebration.
He said the festival would climax with a grand fundraising durbar on Saturday, November 14, 2026.
GNA
Edited by Maxwel Awumah/Lydia Kukua Asamoah