Togbe Koku Dzaga XI, the Paramount Chief of the Klefe Traditional Area, has called on Ghanaians to prioritize sustainable and eco-friendly practices to safeguard the environment for future generations. He made this appeal at a grand durbar during the Yam Festival celebration in the Ho Municipality of the Volta Region. The Paramount Chief emphasized that Ghana's future prosperity depends on its ability to balance development with environmental conservation.
The Paramount Chief highlighted the importance of incorporating green technology and environmental mindfulness into technical skills development. He noted that the country's natural resources were fiercely protected by their forebears, who had ancestral guidelines against pollution. However, these core values are now under threat, and Togbe Dzaga stressed that Ghana's development must not come at the expense of its natural ecosystem.
Togbe Dzaga also expressed concern about the rising rate of substance abuse among young people, citing the ease with which they access harmful substances. He urged the youth to resist destructive influences and actively fight for their future, warning that youthfulness is fleeting and regret cannot reverse time. The Paramount Chief advised young people not to allow anyone to mortgage their potential.
The Paramount Chief charged the community to strengthen traditional systems of discipline, care, and shared responsibility, particularly in guiding youth toward technical skills development. He suggested that this approach could replace destructive paths with purpose, productivity, and self-worth. Togbe Dzaga also highlighted the Yam Festival's role in cultural preservation and resource mobilization.
The Paramount Chief disclosed that development funds generated from the festival over the past three years were used to construct a new five-unit boys' dormitory block for the Klefe Technical Institute. He appealed to the government, corporate donors, and international development partners for strategic support, infrastructural investment, and partnerships to transform Klefe into a premier hub of skilled labor.
Other stakeholders, including Mr. Richmond Edem Kofi Kpotosu, the Member of Parliament for the Ho Central Constituency, and Mr. Stephen Adom, the Ho Municipal Chief Executive, commended the traditional leadership and the community for leveraging the cultural festival to drive development projects. They assured the chiefs and people that the government is taking steps to ensure the Klefe Traditional Area receives its fair share of development.
The event, held on the theme "Harnessing Skills Development of the Youth through Technical Education: The Role of Our Communities within Government's Reset Agenda," aimed to promote technical education and youth development. The Paramount Chief's call to action emphasizes the need for collective responsibility in promoting sustainable development and technical skills development in Ghana.
Key points
- The Paramount Chief of Klefe Traditional Area urges Ghanaians to adopt eco-friendly practices and technical skills for sustainable development.
- The Yam Festival serves as a critical vehicle for resource mobilization and cultural preservation in the Klefe Traditional Area.
- The Klefe Technical Institute requires urgent infrastructural expansion, including new facilities and equipment.
