By Evans Worlanyo Ameamu, GNA
Tegbi (V/R) Oct. 2, GNA – The chiefs and people of Anlo Traditional Council have announced a programme of activities for the celebration of this year’s celebration of the Hogbetsotso Festival (Hogbetsotso Za), that would end with the Grand Durbar in Anloga on November 7, 2026. Â
The activities to mark the celebration of the festival were announced at a media launch in Tegbi, to officially unveil the celebration, build public interest and establish a strong media presence ahead of the main event.
Mr Siegfried Vilawoe Kwabla Sedziafa, a member of the Local Planning Committee, described Hogbetsotso Za as a celebration of the history, culture, traditions, unity and identity of the Anlo people, as well as commemorating the migration from Notsé to their present homeland.
“This year’s festival will reflect the enduring relevance of Anlo culture and traditional values to modern Ghana. It also seeks to move the celebration beyond remembering the past to a conversation about the future,” he said.
He said the festival and the messages would encourage the younger generation to understand and help preserve their cultural identity, which would further show that pride in one’s heritage need not contradict national unity.
Mr Sedziafa emphasised that the launch has provided the opportunity to communicate the historical and cultural significance of Hogbetsotso while the year’s theme and programmes of activities would introduce key stakeholders and partners to build public interest and anticipation for the celebration.
He said the media launch marked an important step in building awareness and anticipation for this year’s celebration, and called on all stakeholders, the media, and the general public to come together in promoting the rich history, culture and values of Anlo people.
Togbi Kpemini Gawu III, also a member of the Planning Committee, who presented the programme of activities, said the events began on September 22, 2026, with the Anlo Traditional Council Meeting.
It was followed by divination rites in Anloga on September 30, 2026, with a Congress of Chiefs scheduled for October 2, 2026, at the ANSECO Assembly Hall.
Togbi Gawu said billboards and promotional materials would be posted from October 5 to 7, while a royal and educational tour to Notsé, Togo, would take place on October 8 and 9 with Customary sacrifices to the Nyigbla Deity expected to be offered at the Nyigbla Shrine in Tunu from October 10 to 14.
The Mini-Hogbetsotso Za would be held at Blamezado on October 17, 2026, and would be followed by the mounting of buntings in Anloga on October 19 and 20.
The Traditional Clean-up Campaign (Dordede), which he described as a spiritual and physical purification of all Anlo communities, would be held on November 2, 2026, quiz competition for Basic Schools on November 3, 2026, and the Basic Schools’ Hogbetsotso Za on November 4 to engage pupils in passing down the community’s oral histories.
Togbi Gawu said the Anlo Dukor Reconciliation Rites (Nugbidodo) would take place in Anloga on November 5, a health walk from KETABUSCO Junction to the Emancipation Beach would be held on November 6, when the Awoamefia, Togbi Sri III, would also sit in state at his palace at Woe Aklorbordzi, together with Awadada of Anlo, Togbi Agbesi Awusu II, Commander of the Military Wings, alongside Fiawo at his palace.
The same day would see this year’s Glimetoto, a free-view activity, at the forecourt of the Anloga District Assembly, and the Grand Durbar would to be held at the Awoamefia Sri III Astro Turf Park in Anloga, to bring together the various states of Anlo Dukor and national dignitaries in a display of royal pageantry.
The Ghana News Agency also observed that the programme also includes the Hogbe Corporate and Investment Forum, aimed at attracting investment for the Keta Port Project, WACA coastal protection initiatives and agricultural mechanisation in the Volta Lagoon basin.
A new awards event is also expected to be held to honour some distinguished sons and daughters of Anlo for their contributions to its development, and the Planning Committee invited corporate bodies, institutions and friends of Anlo to support the initiative.
Some Chiefs and citizens of Anlo who spoke to the GNA after the launch expressed satisfaction and joy over the programmes outlined and urged the local planning committee to put all measures in place to control security issues before, during and after the festival for a successful celebration.
The theme of the 2026 Hogbetsotso Za is,” Anlo, Our Heritage and Our Values; Striving to Build One Ghana for Better Tomorrow.”
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Benjamin Mensah