Avatime round-up Amu Festival with grand durbar

There was an enchanting exposition of colours, culture and rich traditions when the people of the Avatime Traditional Area in the Ho West District of the Volta Region rounded up their Avatime Amu (Mountain brown rice) festival with a grand durbar at Avatime-Gbadzame last Saturday.

The Avatime Amufest 2024 was on the theme: “Sustaining Avatime as a climate-resilient community through brown rice production, culture and eco-tourism.”

A former Speaker of Parliament, Edward Korbly Doe Adjaho, was the guest of honour at the durbar, which attracted people from all walks of life, including chiefs and queen mothers from other parts of the country and neighbouring Togo.

He reminded the people of the need to uphold the peace in the countdown to the elections and said there could be no meaningful development without it.

That notwithstanding, Mr Adjaho urged the people to remain vigilant and prevent lawlessness during the period.

“We do not want more people dying during the elections and we do not want anyone seeking power through bloodshed,” he added.

The former Speaker said Ghana is now going through very difficult times, especially in the economy, characterised by the rapid depreciation of the Ghana Cedi against all major currencies and high cost of living.

“At this trajectory, we need a change for the better to put the nation back on the course of progress,” he added.

The guest of honour entreated Ghanaians to be guided by their present harsh circumstances as against their past well-being and vote accordingly. 

Mountain brown rice

The Osie of Avatime, Osie Adza Tekpor VII, in a speech read on his behalf, said the Avatime Traditional Council regenerated the celebration of the Amu Festival in 2009 to restore the full and vigorous cultivation of mountain brown rice in the area.

“This is in consideration of its nutritional value, and strong potential as a source of income through commercial cultivation in the Avatime communities,” he added.

Osie Adza Tekpor said that the initiative was also aimed at symbolising the traditional and cultural brand identity of the natives and reinforcing the bond of unity among the Avatime indigenes.

He touched on the theme and said it exemplified the need for the people to strengthen their interest in brown rice farming, preserve the cultural heritage of their ancestors, safeguard the environment and promote tourism to greater heights.

Osie Adza Tekpor urged the people of Avatime to eschew all divisive tendencies, land and chieftaincy litigations and rather remain united for progress.

“We should not succumb or fall prey to the deceptions and influences of a few individuals nor allow ourselves of a few needless adversities, cynicism and disputes for the selfish gains of troublemakers,” he said.

Agricultural traditions

The Chief of Avatime-Gbadzame, Okusie Okorforobour Agyeman, said the community is rich in agricultural traditions and blessed with exceptional tourism potential but continued to face challenges with the terrible state of the roads which hindered easy access to the area.

He paid glowing tributes to the 24-hour economy plan of the NDC flag bearer and said it held promises for job creation for the youth and would allow them to contribute meaningfully to community and national development.

Among the large gathering at the durbar was the Ankobeahene of Larteh and President of the Guan Congress, Nana Enyineh Gyadu Nkansah III.