GBI TRADITIONAL AREAS MARK GBIDIKORZA (PAGE 21, DEC 9)

The chiefs and people of Gbi, comprising the people of Hohoe and Peki traditional areas in the Volta Region, have held a grand durbar to climax their annual unification festival - “Gbi-dukorza”.
The festival, which is held on rotational basis in each of the towns, was initiated in 1995 to mark the unification of the two traditional areas after their split on the journey out of Notsie, while escaping from the tyrannical rule of King Agokorli around the 17th century.
History has it that the people broke through a part of the walled city and started their journey to their present location.
In 1995, the two traditional areas decided to come together and celebrate the festival at one place and this year, it was held at Hohoe.
This year’s celebration was on the theme: “The Development of Tourist Sites; The Future of Gbidukor”.
Addressing the festival, the Minister of Tourism, Mrs Juliana Azuma Mensah, expressed satisfaction and gratitude to the people for their hospitality. She said the municipality was endowed with major tourists attractions.
The minister said tourists visiting Afadjato would now enjoy decent visitor facilities with a gift-shop, training and exhibition halls at the foot of the mountain at Gbledi-Gbogame.
Other identified and developed centres are the Wli waterfall, the highest in West Africa, the Monkey Sanctuary at Tafi Atome and the ancient caves at Likpe.
She said the involvement of the people in tourism development was impressive and reiterated that the Government, having noted the vast potential in the industry had provided a congenial environment for tourism development and promoting private investment in the industry.
She said the construction of the tourist village at Peki to promote handicrafts should be taken seriously. She called for serious attention to be given to education on environmental protection with the view to harnessing the enormous potential.
The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, reaffirmed the determination of the Government to improve infrastructure such as roads to facilitate investment by the private sector in the tourism industry.
He said the eastern corridor from Asikuma through Hohoe to the northern part of the country was one of the highways the Government was determined to improve and said everything was being done to commence the project.
Earlier in his welcoming address, the Paramount Chief of Gbi Dzigbe (Hohoe Traditional Area), Togbega Gabusu VI, expressed satisfaction that for the past 15 years, the two sister areas had preserved the peace and unity and expressed the hope that the heritage would be cherished for years to come.
For his part, the Deiga of Gbi Anyigbe (Peki Traditional Area) Togbe Kwadzo Dei XI, prayed that the “Gbidukorza” Gbi festival would be well packaged and promoted because of its potential to propel the development of tourism.