By Michael Foli Jackidy
Ehi (V/R), Sept. 30, GNA – Hundreds of enthusiastic youth from Ehi and its surrounding areas in the Volta Region, poured out to participate in the 2024 Ehi Nutome Gali Za Float, marking one of the key highlights of the annual festival.
The float, which drew participants from all levels of society, created a vibrant atmosphere as the youth dressed in colorful Gali Za T-shirts paraded through the streets accompanied by brass band music, dancing, and cheering.
The Ehi Nutome Gali Za festival, celebrated by the chiefs and people of Ehi in the Ketu North Municipality is a cultural event designed to showcase the town’s potential in gali production, not only within Ghana but across Africa.
This year’s festival is on the theme: “Rallying for Development,” emphasising the community’s drive toward growth and unity.
Madam Monyo Akos Agbemehia, the 2017 Mama Gali Za winner, expressed her excitement over the turnout for this year’s float.
She told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview that the energy and enthusiasm were unparalleled, particularly given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on previous celebrations saying, “I am pleasantly surprised to see this type of crowd for the float this morning.
“This year’s festival is truly special, and the high level of participation is a testament to how much the people of Ehi have longed to celebrate together again after the pandemic”.
Similarly, the 2019 Mama Gali Za 2nd runner-up added that the successful organisation of events so far indicated that this year’s festival would be one of the most memorable.
The float, which kicked off from the Ehi main station, traveled through several towns including Weta, Agbozume in Ketu South, and made its way through Ativuta and Tokor before looping back to Penyi, Dzodze, and finally returning to Ehi.
The 2024 Ehi Nutome Gali Za Festival commenced with a community-wide Clean-Up Exercise on September 21, 2024, setting the tone for a week of events aimed at celebrating Ehi’s rich culture and heritage.
The annual celebration brings together natives and visitors, highlighting Ehi’s reputation as a leading producer of gali, a traditional Ghanaian dish made from fermented cassava dough.
The durbar to climax the festival would feature Torgbui Adukpo Dzeble IV, the Chief of Ehi, and distinguished guests such as Torgbui Akpo Ashiakpor VI, the Paramount Chief of the Weta Traditional Council, and Nana Awuah-Darko Ampem II from Juabeng.
GNA