The people of Anlo have officially launched the 2025 edition of the annual Hogbetsotsoza at Ohawu in the Ketu North Municipality, Volta Region, with a resounding call for the transformation of the Ohawu Agricultural College into a fully-fledged university.

The 2025 launch, held under the theme 'Building Bridges: From Common History to Common Destiny' brought together traditional authorities, government officials, and citizens from across the region.

The colourful ceremony highlighted both the rich cultural heritage of the Anlo people and their collective aspirations for development.

The Awadada of Anlo, Togbi Agbesi Awusu II, used the occasion to urge government to expedite action on upgrading the Ohawu Agricultural College, describing the move as a “national necessity” to drive agricultural innovation, food security, and youth employment.

"The choice of Ohawu for this launch is deliberate," Togbi Awusu declared. "Hogbetsotso is more than a cultural celebration. It is the story of resilience, of unity, and of hope. Today, we are called to carry that story beyond our borders, to make Hogbetsotso not only Ghana’s pride, but a truly global festival of heritage and transformation."

He emphasised that turning the Ohawu Agricultural College into a university would bridge the gap between the traditional farming knowledge of the Anlo people and the modern world of agribusiness, technology, and sustainable livelihoods. He further called on all Anlo citizens to support the festival and contribute to the development agenda it embodies.

The Principal of Ohawu Agricultural College, Ernest M.K. Abiew, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to producing skilled agricultural professionals despite longstanding challenges such as limited potable water, inadequate staff accommodation, obsolete laboratories, and insufficient teaching facilities. He noted that since its establishment in 1965, the college had played a central role in Ghana’s agricultural manpower development but requires urgent upgrading to meet modern demands.

Ketu North Member of Parliament, Eric Edem Agbana, described the transformation of the college as a "national necessity rather than a local demand". He lamented decades of neglect despite the college’s historic role in producing extension officers, farm managers, and entrepreneurs nationwide.

"At a time when agriculture is being transformed globally through science and technology, our college risks going extinct because successive governments, including my own NDC, have failed to prioritise it," he regretted.

Mr Agbana argued that elevating the college into a university would enhance food security, create jobs, expand academic programmes, and foster international research partnerships. 

He appealed directly to the Volta Regional Minister and central government to treat the issue as a regional and national priority.

"Transforming Ohawu into a university will not only be your greatest legacy, but the greatest legacy any government can give to the people of the Volta Region and Ghana at large," he underlined.

He also urged traditional leaders to unite in the quest for development, warning that chieftaincy disputes were scaring away investors. He revealed that his constituency had already lost a $30 million investment due to such disputes.

The launch ceremony, which set the stage for weeks of cultural displays, historical remembrance, and development dialogue, underscored the dual purpose of Hogbetsotsoza celebrating Anlo heritage while advancing the region’s socio-economic progress.