President Mahama urges traditional leaders to strengthen national unity through cultural exchanges
President John Dramani Mahama has called for stronger cultural exchanges and cooperation among traditional leaders, young people, cultural institutions and businesses to deepen friendship and national unity.
He made the appeal at this year’s Hogbetsotso Festival at Agbogbo in the Volta Region, where he praised the visit of the Yagbonwura from the Gonja Kingdom as an expression of friendship and mutual respect between the Gonja and Anlo traditional areas.
The President, who said he was a son of the Gonja Kingdom, described the Yagbonwura’s presence at the festival as an important demonstration of the relationships that bind communities across the country.
“His journey all the way from the Gonja Kingdom to celebrate with the Anlo people demonstrates the friendship and mutual respect that bind all our communities together. As a son of the Gonja Kingdom myself and President of our Republic, I am especially pleased to witness this fellowship,” he said.
President Mahama thanked the Yagbonwura and the Awoamefia for using traditional leadership to strengthen understanding and friendship among Ghanaians.
“I thank the Yagbonwura and the Awoamefia for demonstrating how traditional leadership can deepen understanding and friendship across our country,” he said.
He encouraged similar exchanges among traditional leaders and other groups to strengthen relationships and promote cooperation across communities.
“May this encounter encourage further similar exchanges among our traditional leaders, our young people, our cultural institutions and businesses, and continue to strengthen our relationships,” he added.
This year’s festival was held under the theme, “Anlo, Our Heritage and Our Values: Striving to Build One Ghana for a Better Tomorrow.”
President Mahama said the theme reflected the responsibility of Ghanaians to celebrate their distinct cultural identities while contributing to the peace and development of the country.
He noted that Hogbetsotso preserved the memory of the Anlo people’s migration from Notsie and the courage, ingenuity and solidarity demonstrated by their ancestors.
The President also acknowledged the contribution of the Anlo people to national development through education, public service, enterprise, farming, fishing and the creative arts.
He called on members of the Anlo diaspora to contribute to the development of their communities through investment, mentorship, professional partnerships and support for local institutions.
“To the Anlo diaspora, those of you who have come from the diaspora, I invite you to deepen your contribution through investment, mentorship, professional partnerships and support for local institutions,” he said.
He added that cultural tourism could create economic opportunities for local communities when it respected traditional practices and ensured that residents benefited.
“Cultural tourism can support livelihoods when it respects sacred customs and allows local communities to benefit,” he said.
President Mahama urged Ghanaians to preserve peace and resolve differences through dialogue, saying the friendships celebrated at the festival should strengthen the country’s unity.
“Let us settle our differences through dialogue and ensure that the inheritance we pass on to our children includes respect for one another,” he said.
He ended by expressing the hope that the festival would renew bonds among the people of Anlo and strengthen friendships across Ghana.
“May this Hogbetsotso Festival renew the bonds among the people of Anlo and strengthen friendships among all the people of Ghana. May God bless the Anlo State, may God bless the Gonja State, and may God bless our homeland Ghana,” he said.
Richard Aniagyei, ISD
