By Michael Foli Jackidy
Ehi (V/R), Sept. 28, GNA – The chiefs and people of Ehi in the Ketu North Municipality have celebrated the 10th edition of the Ehi Nutome Gali Za with a call for unity, cultural preservation and increased investment in cassava production and agro-processing.
The annual festival, held on the theme: “Galiza @ 10: Reflecting on the Past, Planning the Future,” seeks to showcase the community’s culture and traditions as well as the economic potential of gari production.
Mr James Gunu, Volta Regional Minister, said traditional festivals provided communities with important platforms to preserve their history and culture, promote unity, mobilise resources, and pursue development.
He said festivals also offered citizens opportunities to reflect on the past, forgive one another, reconcile and unite around common development goals.
Mr Gunu, who was speaking at the celebration, said it was the second time he had participated in the Ehi festival, having first attended in his capacity as a secretary and now as the Volta Regional Minister.
He said he had earlier participated in the Klefe Te Za Festival, where he commissioned a boarding facility for the Klefe Technical Institute, demonstrating how festivals could contribute to community development.
Mr Gunu said the economic value of gari had grown considerably and that the Government was working to create an enabling market for agricultural produce through initiatives such as the 24-hour economy market.
He said the Government had also directed public institutions and schools to procure locally produced food as part of efforts to promote local agriculture and strengthen the domestic value chain.
The Minister encouraged the people of Ehi to continue using the Nutome Gali Za to promote their culture, strengthen unity and showcase the economic potential of gari.
Reverend Martin Amenaki, Ketu North Municipal Chief Executive, said the 10th anniversary was a significant milestone that reflected the foresight of the community’s forebears and the resilience of the people in preserving their cultural and economic heritage associated with gari production.
He said since its inception in 2016, the festival had grown from a modest community gathering into a regional event celebrating the agro-economic importance of gari and showcasing the industriousness, innovation and entrepreneurial abilities of the people of Ehi and the Ketu North Municipality.
Rev Amenaki said the cassava value chain provided livelihoods for thousands of families, particularly women and young people involved in processing, trading and marketing.
He said the festival had also strengthened social cohesion, reinforced traditional values and provided a platform for transferring knowledge on sustainable farming and processing techniques between generations.
He said Ehi gari was exported beyond Ghana, contributing to foreign exchange earnings and enhancing the reputation of Ketu North as an agro-processing hub.
The MCE said cassava was not only important for food security but also a major economic crop, adding that cassava production in Ketu North was estimated at about 250,000 metric tonnes annually, with the potential to increase significantly through improved farming practices and investment.
He said the Assembly would collaborate with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and development partners to explore the establishment of communal processing centres equipped with modern graters, pressers, fryers and packaging machines.
The Assembly would also explore the production of value-added cassava products, including high-quality cassava flour, cassava starch, cassava chips for export and fortified gari, to expand markets, reduce post-harvest losses and improve incomes for farmers and processors.
Rev Amenaki said the Assembly would prioritise the rehabilitation of access roads to cassava farms and processing sites, improvement of market infrastructure and enhanced electricity and water supply to support processing activities.
He said programmes would also be introduced to train young people in modern agronomy, agro-processing and agribusiness management and encourage them to consider cassava farming and processing as viable career opportunities.
Torgbui Akpo Ashiakpor VI, Paramount Chief and President of the Weta Traditional Council, said the 10th anniversary theme reflected the progress Ehi had made and its aspirations for the future.
He said over the past decade, the festival had evolved into an event that brought together the people of the Weta Traditional Area, promoted customs and traditions, facilitated development and showcased the potential of communities in the area.
Torgbui Ashiakpor called for greater collaboration among citizens, the Government, traditional authorities and development partners to promote education, youth empowerment, infrastructure development, environmental protection and economic growth.
He appealed to the Government to expedite the implementation of the Big Push agenda to improve road networks in the traditional area, particularly the Ehi-Agbozume road and the road from Weta Junction through Weta township to Xevi and Dzodze.
He also called for increased police visibility in Ehi and the wider traditional area, action against illicit drug use and distribution, and the renovation of the Weta Irrigation Scheme, which he said had suffered repeated flood damage.
Torgbui Dzeble-Adukpo IV, Dufia of Ehi and Head of the Ehi Division, said the anniversary provided an opportunity to reflect on the progress made since the festival began and determine the direction of development for the next decade.
He said the festival had helped to regroup the people, mobilise indigenes and harness their collective resources for development.
Torgbui Dzeble-Adukpo said one of the major achievements of the festival was the strengthening of relationships among the 22 communities of Ehiawo and the creation of a stronger sense of shared responsibility for development.
He said the establishment of the Ehi Development Council in 2018 had provided a more organised platform for traditional leaders, stakeholders and citizens to coordinate development across the communities.
Torgbui Dzeble-Adukpo called for dialogue, forgiveness and reconciliation, saying petty quarrels, violence, insults, revenge and unnecessary hostility could undermine community development.
He also urged residents to use social media responsibly and avoid misinformation, defamation, and insults, while leveraging technology to educate, create opportunities, advertise, and promote community development.
Looking ahead to the next decade, he identified education and youth development, agriculture, technology, investment, job creation and infrastructure as priority areas.
He cited the proposed redevelopment of the Ehi Police Station into a modern law-enforcement facility, conversion of the current night market into the Ehi Community Centre, upgrading of the Ehi Market into a modern commercial centre, provision of residential accommodation for nurses at the Ehi Health Centre and upgrading of the health facility into a polyclinic.
The colourful durbar brought together chiefs and queen mothers from the various Ehi divisions, citizens from home and abroad, politicians, government officials and other stakeholders to celebrate the 10-year journey of the Nutome Gali Za and discuss the future development of the community.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Lydia Kukua Asamoah