Dzodze Celebrates “Dezâ” 2024 – Commits To Areas Development

The chiefs and people of Dzodze in the Ketu North Municipality of the Volta region have marked their annual Dezâ (oil palm festival) with a pledge to harness the socio-economic opportunities in the area towards its development and progress.

Speaking at a colourful durbar to climax activities that marked the week-long celebrations on Saturday, October 5, the Paramount Chief and President of the Dzodze Traditional Council, Torgbiga Dzoku V, called on all citizens of the area to safeguard the peace and unity that defined the communal spirit and culture of the people.

“The purpose of Dezâ is to bring together all citizens of the traditional area, both home and abroad to deliberate, unionize, make plans, and raise funds for development projects and programs for the growth and progress of our area,” he said while emphasizing the need to promote peace and unity among the people, which were major prerequisites for the areas socio-economic transformation.

Torgbiga Dzoku said Dzodze has over the years been noted for its endowed oil palm plantations which has attracted several traders and business people in the oil palm value chain but bemoaned the sharp decline in the production of the commodity due to unfavorable weather conditions and climate change, calling for concerted efforts from all citizens to revamp the production of oil palm in commercial quantities to restore the area to its past glory.

“The theme for this year’s Dezâ therefore is “Unlocking opportunities in agribusiness; critical and timely as it is – we seek to harness the immense potential in agribusiness for the growth and development of Dzodze traditional area. We deem it a unique opportunity to turn our focus on agribusiness, especially the cultivation of oil palm on the value chain which holds tremendous economic potential for our people,” the Dzodze Paramount Chief noted.

Torgbiga Dzoku called on all citizens of the area to take a personal interest in the revitalization and global branding of Dezâ (oil palm festival) as it was a platform to attract opportunities and development.

The traditional ruler further entreated all chiefs and queens in the traditional area to ensure that all outstanding chieftaincy issues and conflicts were amicably resolved through appropriate legal processes.

“It is important that we resolve any disputes in a manner that will not impede the progress and development of our community,” stressing that peace and unity were cornerstones of rapid socio-economic progress.

Thousands of Dzodze citizens attended the colourful event, representatives from other traditional areas and the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MoCRA), the King of the Igbo community in Ghana, HRM Eze Dr. Amb. Chukudi Ihenetu among other important personalities.

By Leo Nelson || Ghananewsonline.com.gh