The chiefs and people of Battor Traditional Area in the North Tongu district of the Volta region have, over the weekend, held a colourful mini durbar to herald this year’s Hogbeza.
Slated for 13 December, 2025 the festival will take place at Dugame-Battor and is expected to attract the president, Mr John Dramani Mahama, the regional minister and some other government officials.
These were disclosed by the paramount chief of Battor Traditional Area, Togbega Patamia Dzekley VII, who is the Vice President of the Volta Regional House of chiefs and a member of the National House of chiefs in a speech he delivered at the mini Hogbeza.
Also president of the Battor traditional council, he praised the chiefs and people of Manya and Kodokorpe for coming together to host the mini durbar.
He appealed to the natives to do away with petty squabbles, forgive one another and live in peace. ‘Let’s forgive one another and live in peace,’ he said.
Togbega Patamia Dzekley expressed worries at the hostile environment that prevailed against the festival celebration over the years.
This, he noted, made it impossible for the traditional council to function to, among other things, seek development projects for the area.
He expressed joy that the wind of the reset agenda is blowing over the Battor traditional area too, which will bring some useful transformations to the people.
He entreated the people to participate in the upcoming Hogbeza in their numbers and contribute their quota to the development plans the traditional council has for it.
The chairman of the mini Hogbeza, Mr Harrison Vortuame, observed that festivals are one of the vessels of developments. Thus any traditional area that doesn’t celebrate a festival will be losing so much by way development and the promotion of its culture.
He bemoaned conditions that obstructed Hogbeza over the years, but was pleased that the festival was resurrected to raise money to continue some projects initiated by the festival planning committee which have stalled.
The acting vice chairman of the planning committee, Togbe Akliku II said despite the short notice due to uncertainties surrounding the festival, the event was heavily attended with many cultural troupes as if it were the main festival.
He commended the people for the demonstration of willingness to support the development of Battor.
‘Dollar Ladies,” a welfare Association of some ladies of Battor, uniquely dressed in white T-shirts with a cap to match, also graced the occasion and made a handsome financial donation and promised to not just promote the upcoming Hogbeza, but also make more donations during the festival in December.
Patrons of the mini Hogbeza expressed joy at the programme and described it as entertaining as and more than successful.
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