Dagbamate: ‘Hanuawo’ of Dagbamate Apetorku Gbodzi shrine, in the Akatsi Municipality of the Volta Region, have appealed to the government to as a matter of urgency, prioritise their road networks in the area. Ngorgbea Kofi Moses Davor, the Acting Chief of Dagbamate, in an address delivered during this year’s annual festival held at the Apetorku Shrine, Dagbamate, said that the road network within the area was in a bad state and needed urgent attention.
According to Ghana News Agency, Ngorgbea Davor addressed the community’s need for government intervention not only in road infrastructure but also in other pressing issues. He highlighted the abandoned roofing project of the Dagbamate Junior High School, which had been left unfinished for over 15 years and was recently damaged by heavy rain. Furthermore, he emphasized the efforts of the community, through the Apetorku Shrine, in establishing a Vocational Training Centre to support local youth, and urged government assistance to expand these facilities to mitigate unemployment in the region.
Ngorgbea Davor reflected on the community-driven initiatives over the past two decades, which included the development of the Apetorku shrine worship centre, educational facilities, electrification projects, and the establishment of health and vocational training centers. A recent focus was the commissioning of the Vocational Training Centre during the festival, along with a sod-cutting ceremony for new hostels for vocational training apprentices.
He called upon stakeholders to invest in African traditional and cultural assets as a means of promoting tourism and achieving self-sustainability, reducing the financial burden on government resources. Additionally, he urged President John Dramani Mahama to acknowledge the significance of African Traditional Religion and Culture by instituting a public holiday to enhance interfaith respect and harmony.
Mr. Bernard Ahiafor, the First Deputy Speaker and Member of Parliament for Akatsi South, praised the Dagbamate Apetorku Shrine worshipers for their dedication and developmental contributions, which have significantly advanced the area’s progress. He assured that the government would resume work on stalled infrastructure projects, including the roads connecting Dagbamate to neighboring communities, facilitating better access and development.
Mr. Ahiafor further commended the community for undertaking 99 per cent of their development projects independently and encouraged other religious groups across the nation to replicate such self-driven initiatives to ease governmental pressure and combat unemployment.
