By Ewoenam Kpodo
Tsiame (VR), Aug. 25, GNA – The Chiefs and People of Anlo have been charged to take immediate action to preserve their cultural heritage sites, especially those at Tsiame, known as the traditional military headquarters of Anlo.
The historical town, where in the past, Anlo ancestors gathered and shared ammunition for battle, has its sacred sites including “Tsalive” – a spiritual prayer ground for the entire Anlo Dukor, where tree cutting and land sales are prohibited.
Dr Ken Edem Ashigbey, a native, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, who made the call Saturday during the launch of Anlos’ annual traditional festival, Hogbetsotsoza at Tsiame, said Anlo’s power and former glory depended on the restoration of these sacred sites.
He identified sites in the historic town such as “Dordeve Kotui,” a spiritual site where diseases and sicknesses are taken to safeguard the people of Anlo; “Gorglive” – a sacred healing forest, where Togbe Tsali and his brother healed the people, and Fiate – a sacred stream, and also home to crocodile, is being destroyed by negative human activities.
Dr Ashigbey said: “The destruction of these sacred sites has led to the loss of power and glory of Anlo. To restore the former glory and spiritual significance of Anlo, it is imperative that: the sale of land is stopped immediately; the destroyed areas are restored and replanted with native trees and vegetation; the sacred sites are protected and preserved for future generations.
“Only through the restoration of the sacred forest groves can the power and glory of Anlo be revived. We must act now to save our heritage.”
He added that preserving the sacred sites was integral to their identity and connection to the land “we hold dear” and, held economic potentials for the people.
“Furthermore, preserving our cultural heritage sites is not just a matter of pride but also a crucial factor in driving tourism and creating wealth for our people,” he said.
Dr Ashigbey underscored the need to revive the rich Anlo/Ewe culture in the younger generation, properly record and document the history to honour their ancestors, wage war against poverty, disease and underdevelopment and, encourage the youth to shun drug use to guarantee “a future filled with hope.”
Dr Samuel Dotse, Founder/CEO of Hands across the Ocean Foundation (HATOF), an international environmental organisation in Ghana, who was the Special Guest, urged Anlos to see the launch as the beginning of a collective responsibility to protect their environment.
“This what God has given us, and we cannot move from here to any other place,” he stressed.
Mr. James Abotsi, on behalf of Tsiame Council of Chiefs, hoped the gathering would foster renewed commitment to their traditions, cultural preservation and collective progress for revitalised economic activities and finding innovative solutions to their development challenges in areas of school infrastructure, healthcare, road network, irrigation system and job creation.
The launch, chaired by Togbi Agbesi Awusu II, Awadada of Anlo, saw the inauguration of the Hogbetsotsoza Planning Committee with the Anlo Youth Council led by Mr. Ken Kpedor, highly commended for good conduct in their first ever organisation of the festival, which is on the theme: “Strengthening Bonds and Embracing Our Shared Heritage.”
The launch paves way for the beginning of the famous festival also known as Hogbeza, which commemorates the legendary exodus of the Ewe-Dogbo folks from Notsie in present-day Togo with a ban on drumming and noise-making from Sunday, September 8 to Mini Hogbeza, Basic Schools Hogbeza, “Nugbidodo” (reconciliation) and “Glimetoto” (an enactment of the departure) to herald the climax on Saturday, November 2 at Anloga.
GNA