The twin communities of Taviefe-Deme and Sreme in the Ho Municipality of the Volta Region have renewed their commitment to unity and development with a joint celebration of their annual Yam Festival, which also seeks to raise funds for community projects.
The festival, celebrated in September, is an occasion for the communities to thank God, their gods and ancestors for a bumper harvest and pray for good health, peace and prosperity.
Addressing the gathering, the Member of Parliament for Ho Central, Richmond Edem Kofi Kpotosu, commended the communities for demonstrating accountability and commitment to development by investing funds raised during last year’s celebration in tangible projects.
He said the community had begun constructing a dormitory block for its technical school and was also working towards establishing a community centre.
Mr. Kpotosu urged the residents to sustain their efforts and invited them to showcase progress on the projects during next year’s festival to enable stakeholders to identify areas where further support would be needed.
He contrasted their efforts with those of other communities that had organised fundraising activities for years without tangible results, stressing the importance of translating collective contributions into visible development.
The MP also called on teachers to lay strong foundations for institutional development, saying such initiatives could attract support from individuals, including those living abroad.
He urged residents to complement government efforts by establishing businesses and creating employment opportunities, noting that the government alone could not provide jobs for everyone.
Mr. Kpotosu further encouraged the youth to embrace technical and vocational education, emphasising that practical skills were equally valuable as academic qualifications.
He said vocationally trained people played important roles as designers, creators and problem-solvers and urged parents to recognise the different learning abilities of children rather than dismissing those who did not perform well academically at an early age.
The Municipal Chief Executive for Ho, Stephen Adom, also commended the two communities for coming together to pursue a common development agenda.
He said unity was essential for community progress and urged the residents to sustain their cooperation rather than celebrate their festivals separately.
Mr. Adom assured the communities of his support and said he had provided some essential building materials for the construction of the proposed community centre.
He expressed the hope that the facility would be completed and commissioned by next year, adding that he would continue to support the project.
The MCE also cautioned the youth against allowing themselves to be exploited by individuals seeking to foment trouble, particularly over chieftaincy disputes in the municipality.
He urged them to unite, support their chiefs and work together to promote peace and development.
The Afetorfia of Taviefe-Sreme, Togbe Dr. Kpegba Agbakpe I, said chieftaincy disputes and conflicting oral histories had weakened the historical bonds between the two communities.
He called for a renewed commitment to the unity enjoyed by their forefathers, recalling that the communities once celebrated festivals together, visited one another’s homes and shared meals peacefully.
According to him, the current divisions raise questions about whether the people are preserving the heritage handed down to them by their ancestors.
He said the communities must learn from the past, restore their relationship and channel their collective efforts into development.
Togbe Agbakpe I, expressed optimism that the renewed cooperation would continue beyond this year’s celebration and lead to further progress.
The Chief of Taviefe-Sreme, Zipuitor Atafiagbi, said the reunion of the youth from Taviefe-Deme and Sreme through the festival marked an important step towards restoring the relationship between the two communities.
He described the celebration as the first joint Yam Festival of its kind since 2002, adding that the decision to reorganise and unite the communities had already yielded positive results.
He said the construction of a community centre remained a major priority, as the facility would provide a common venue for public gatherings and other community activities.
The chief expressed hope that next year’s celebration would be bigger and better, with further progress on the development projects.
He also raised concerns about drug abuse and other forms of misconduct among some young people, announcing plans to organise seminars, debars and town-hall meetings to educate them on the dangers of such behaviour.
He said traditional leaders and other community stakeholders were committed to addressing the concerns and hoped to begin the educational activities soon.
The joint festival has provided a platform for the two communities to strengthen their traditional ties, promote peaceful coexistence and mobilise resources for projects intended to improve the lives of their residents.
