The Dufia of Anloga, Togbi Zewu IV, has stated that the ancient Anlo tactic of walking backwards to escape captivity at Notsie can provide valuable lessons for Ghana's current economic struggles. Speaking at the launch of the 2026 Hogbetsotso Za festival in Tegbi, Volta Region, Togbi Zewu said Ghana is facing its own economic challenges that require strategic maneuvering. The ancestors' escape tactic, which involved walking backwards to confuse pursuers, can inspire a similar approach to overcome the country's economic difficulties.
The Hogbetsotso Za festival, which commemorates the Anlo people's migration from Notsie to Ghana's eastern coast, is being celebrated under the theme "Anlo, Our Heritage and Our Values: Striving to Build One Ghana for a Better Tomorrow." The festival aims to promote cultural discipline, local economic empowerment, and traditional accountability as tools for national renewal. This year's celebration features various events, including traditional rites, public events, and a Grand Durbar on November 7, 2026.
Togbi Zewu appealed to journalists covering the festival to look beyond the cultural celebrations and report on the everyday economic life of the area, including its fishermen, shallot farmers, and hospitality workers. He also highlighted the coastal communities' vulnerability to climate change and urged reporters to drive domestic tourism and investment into the Volta Region. The Dufia of Anloga expressed gratitude to corporate sponsors, including MTN, Telecel, Accra Brewery Limited, Guinness Ghana, and Ghana Exim Bank, for supporting the festival's economic agenda.
The festival's program includes a royal and educational tour to Notsie in Togo on October 8 and 9, customary sacrifices to the Nyigbla Deity at Tunu between October 10 and 14, and a community clean-up exercise on November 2. The Anlo Dukor Reconciliation Rites will take place in Anloga on November 5. A new Hogbe Corporate and Investment Forum aims to attract investment into the Keta Port project, the West Africa Coastal Areas (WACA) resilience program, and agricultural mechanization in the Volta Lagoon basin.
According to the Local Planning Committee, the Hogbetsotso Za festival is a celebration of Anlo history, culture, unity, and identity. This year's edition seeks to move the conversation beyond remembering the past toward shaping the future. The festival provides a platform for the Anlo people to showcase their heritage and values while promoting economic development in the region.
The Dufia of Anloga emphasized that the festival is not just a cultural celebration but also a national platform to spark a mindset shift and inspire economic growth. He encouraged Ghanaians to draw inspiration from the Anlo ancestors' resourcefulness and apply it to the country's current economic challenges. The festival's economic agenda aligns with the government's efforts to promote industrial development along the Volta economic corridor.
The 2026 Hogbetsotso Za festival will culminate in the Grand Durbar at the Awoamefia Sri III Astro Turf Park in Anloga on November 7, 2026. While the proposed investment forum aims to translate cultural appeals into concrete economic action, details on how progress will be measured are yet to be specified. The festival's impact on Ghana's economic recovery remains to be seen.
Key points
- Anlo Chiefs believe the ancestors' escape tactic from Notsie can inspire Ghana's economic recovery.
- The 2026 Hogbetsotso Za festival aims to promote cultural discipline, local economic empowerment, and traditional accountability.
- The festival features a new Hogbe Corporate and Investment Forum to attract investment into key projects in the Volta Region.
