The launch of the 2025 Anlo Hogbetsotso Festival at Ohawu Agricultural College in the Ketu North Municipality has renewed calls for the urgent transformation of the 60-year-old institution into a fully-fledged university.
Held amid drumming, dancing, and vibrant displays of Anlo cultural heritage, the event became more than a festival opening. Chiefs, students, political leaders, and residents used the occasion to demand that the government fulfill a long-standing promise to elevate the college, whose infrastructure has barely changed since the Kwame Nkrumah era.
Tradition Meets Development
Speaking at the launch, the Dufia of Ohawu, Torgbui Kordor, reminded the government of former President John Mahama’s pledge to upgrade the college, stressing that delays in implementing it are stifling both the institution’s growth and the development aspirations of the Anlo people.
“Our patience has been long tested. This festival must mark a turning point for the government to fast-track its commitment to make Ohawu Agricultural College a university,” he said.
Member of Parliament for Ketu North, Eric Agbana, reinforced the appeal, insisting that the demand should not be dismissed as an “Ohawu agenda.” He described the college as a regional asset, critical to the future of agricultural education in the Volta Region and Ghana.
“This is about the Volta Region, and indeed about Ghana. For decades this institution has trained middle-level manpower for the nation, but its facilities remain outdated. Elevating Ohawu is a matter of equity and national interest,” Mr. Agbana argued.
Government’s Assurance
Volta Regional Minister James Gunu reassured the gathering that government remains committed to fulfilling its promise.
“The government will not renege on this commitment. We remain resolute in our pledge to elevate Ohawu Agricultural College into a university of repute,” he affirmed.
A College in Decline
The launch venue was symbolic. Established six decades ago under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the college has been one of Ghana’s leading training grounds for agricultural professionals. It offers a three-year Certificate in General Agriculture program and has produced thousands of graduates serving across sectors.
However, Principal Ernest Abiwu highlighted the college’s deteriorating state, citing obsolete laboratories, inadequate hostels, water shortages, limited teaching resources, and outdated equipment.
“Most of our infrastructure dates back to the Nkrumah era. If we are serious about transforming this college into a university, then there must be urgent government intervention,” he said.
Students also voiced concerns. Shialot Sodzedo called for both renovation and the restoration of allowances for agricultural students to encourage more young people to pursue farming careers.
“We love agriculture, but the conditions make it very difficult. Government must support us with allowances and better facilities,” she appealed.
Hogbetsotso: A Festival With a Message
The Anlo Hogbetsotso Festival, one of Ghana’s most historic and colourful cultural events, commemorates the migration of the Anlo-Ewes from Notsie in Togo to present-day Ghana. This year, launching the festival at Ohawu Agricultural College sent a clear message: culture must drive development.
The blending of tradition with modern demands underscored a collective call for transformation — that the promise of a university for Ohawu must no longer remain a political refrain but become a reality.
Looking Ahead
As Hogbetsotso celebrations continue across Anlo land, voices from Ohawu resonate beyond the festival grounds. The push for modernization and university status is about opportunity — for students, for the Volta Region, and for Ghana’s agricultural future.
Until that promise is fulfilled, Ohawu Agricultural College remains a symbol of both heritage and hope deferred.
Source: Ivy Priscilla Setordjie
ALSO READ: