The Anlo State is set to celebrate this year’s Hogbetsotso Za (Festival) with a week-long series of cultural, social, and developmental events under the theme: “Building Bridges: From a Common History to a Common Destiny.”
Although festival activities officially commenced after the grand launch at Ohawu on August 30, 2025, the main celebrations, running from October 25 to November 3, 2025, are being organised by the Anlo Dukor Council in collaboration with Ghana Exim Bank.
This year’s festival promises a rich blend of traditional rituals, educational forums, entertainment, and thanksgiving activities. According to the official programme shared with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), the festivities began on Saturday, October 25, with a mini Hogbe durbar at Adidome in the Central Tongu District of the Volta Region.
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The following days will feature community-centred events, including a Children’s Durbar across the Anlo Dukor and a quiz competition in Keta and Anloga on October 29, 2025. On October 30, symbolic and unifying activities will include:
- Community net casting from Fuveme to Keta at dawn.
- Nugbidodo (Reconciliation Rites) at Agorwowornu.
- A unity concert in Anloga in the evening.
- A vibrant Agbadza street carnival and procession from Atorkor to Hogbe Park, showcasing the cultural rhythm of the Anlo people.
October 31 will feature major events, beginning with a Health Walk from Jubilee Radio premises in Keta at 5 a.m., followed by the Awoamefia Sitting in State at his residence in Woe, and the Volta Economic Forum at Reddington Hotel, Whuti, at midday. The evening will host the Glimetoto (Historical Exodus Reenactment) at Anloga, commemorating the ancestral journey from Notsie to the present homeland. Parallel activities include a blood donation exercise, indoor games in Keta, and the maiden Hogbetsotso inter-community regatta at Vodza.
The grand durbar of chiefs and people is scheduled for Saturday, November 1, 2025, at Hogbe Park, Anloga, with Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III, the Akwamuhene, as the guest of honour. The evening will feature the Mama Hogbe Beauty Pageant at Jubilee Radio Premises, Keta, celebrating womanhood, culture, and social impact.
Festivities will continue on Sunday, November 2, 2025, with a beach party at Emancipation Beach, Keta, and conclude with Inter-Faith Thanksgiving and post-festival activities across various towns from November 3 to 9, 2025.
Commenting on the theme, Mr Kennet Kpedor, member of the Central Planning Committee, said the celebration aims to “strengthen cultural ties, deepen inter-ethnic understanding, and promote collective development among Ghana’s traditional communities.” He noted that the programme reflects both the vibrant heritage of the Anlo people and their commitment to peace, unity, and progress.
Over the years, Hogbetsotso Za has evolved into one of Ghana’s most prestigious festivals, attracting visitors from across the nation and the diaspora. The 2025 edition is expected to consolidate its legacy as a bridge between generations and a symbol of Ghana’s cultural strength.
