Togbui Sri III

If there was a time in history to be proud of being a Ghanaian, it was at this year’s Hogbetsotso festival last Saturday at Anloga in the Volta Region.

Although hundreds of sons and daughters of the Anlo State converged on the Hogbe Park to celebrate the traditional festival of the Anlo people, it became a beautiful ‘inter-tribe’ festival as it was graced by leaders of two powerful ethnic groups namely; the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II with their entourage.

The festival which was the climax of a week-long activities was chaired by Ga Mantse King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II and it was also the first time an Asante King graced the festival with his entourage from Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital.

The 60^th anniversary of festival which was hosted by Torgbi Sri III was on the theme: “Uniting for Development, Sustaining our Unique Cultural Commonwealth for Future Generations”.

Being the first since the coronavirus pandemic, the occasion further graced by the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia who pleaded with Ghanaians to bear with the government as it took steps to turn around the economic fortunes of the country.

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II also asked for unity between the Anlos and the Asantes and urged them to dismiss the perceived rift between the two stressing groups hinting that the relationship between the Anlos and the Asantes dated back to the 1700s.

Togbi Sri III, in his remarks said Asantes and Anlos had always been good neighbours and collaborated in the past and should reignite that relationship that existed between the two groups over centuries.

From a distance, the Hogbe Park was a sea of colourful kente cloths and ornaments as chiefs from the 36 communities of the Anlo State displayed their rich culture and journey to their present day location, as well as food, among other unique traits.

The festival which recounts the escape of the Anlos from Notsie in present day Togo serves as a convergence ground for the Anlo people, home and abroad, for the development of the 36 states of the area.

By Spectator Reporter