Avatime Traditional Area celebrates Amu Festival

ALL the seven communities in the Avatime Traditional Area in the Volta Region, will embark on cultivation of brown rice as from the next farming season.

This was announced by the Paramount Chief (Osie) of  Adza -Tekpor VII, at a durbar held at Avatime-Amedzofe to round off this year’s Amu (brown rice) festival.

He said that a technical committee will be appointed to see to the successful implementation of that agenda.

This year’s durbar was to raise funds in aid of a girls’ dormitory project at the Amedzofe Technical Vocation Institute.

It was themed “Celebrating the uniqueness of brown rice to promote economic empowerment, eco-tourism and unity in Avatime.”

According to Osie  Adza-Tekpor, brown rice cultivation was in tune with the government’s flagship programme, ‘Planting for Food and Jobs’, with guaranteed prospects for gainful jobs for the youth.

He said that it was important to rebrand Avatime and its Amu Festival to position them on the radar of reputable communities nationally and internationally.

On tourism, Osie Adza-Tekpor cited the cold weather, waterfalls, mountains, forests, games reserves and wildlife in the area which needed to be harnessed for the rapid development of the area.

He appealed to the various ministries, departments and agencies, the Ho West District Assembly and investors to support the people of Avatime with the needed entrepreneurial skills and funding to promote economic empowerment of the area.

To uphold unity among the people of Avatime, Osie Adza-Tekpor directed that the names of the communities in the area should be prefixed with Avatime.

Meanwhile, the Osie of Avatime mentioned the seven-kilometre Vane-Amedzofe road which has just been rehabilitated adding that the government should call back the contractor to correct the shoddy work done.

Earlier, Okusie Akyem Foli, Chief of Avatime-Amedzofe, in a speech read on his behalf, urged the people of Avatime to uphold the peace at all times and build a stronger front for their development.

The celebration was graced by the Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Yao Letsa and  his deputy, Pastor Johnson Avuletey.

The Deputy Greater Accra Regional Minister, Madam Elizabeth Sackey, presented GH¢ 5,000 on behalf of the First Lady, Mrs Rebecca Akufo, in support of the girls’ dormitory project.

The fundraising ceremony realised GH¢ 24,000.00.

FROM ALBERTO MARIO NORETTI, AVATIME-AMEDZOFE