Gbetsoolor Nii Ashitey Akomfra III, Teshie Mantse, has launched the 2019 Teshie Homowo Festival with a call on the citizens to live in peace for the development of the area.

The festival, on the theme: “Hooting at Hunger, Striving for Excellence,” would commence from Monday, August 6 to Friday, October 25, 2019.

Among a number of activities lined up for the festival would be the launch of a GHC 500.000 social intervention project called Akro Foundation and would be funded with revenue from stool lands, bequests, grants, donations, gifts, investments and voluntary contributions from diverse sources.

The Foundation would cater for the training and development of brilliant but needy younger generations in approved basic, second cycle and tertiary institutions, to support government’s efforts in the provision of quality education.

Gbetsoolor Ashitey Akomfra said: “As I ascended to the Teshie Black Stool, I realised a sad decline in education standards and the concomitant danger of pushing Ga-Dangme languages and cultures into extinction.

“I decided to establish the Foundation to help reserve the alarming situation as part of my modest efforts.”

He appealed to individuals and corporate entities, especially the telecommunication companies to support the traditional authorities to raise funds for development.

Gbetsoolor Ashitey Akomfra said three years ago he led in the rebranding of the Teshie Homowo Festival in order to develop a new corporate image for the area.

“Today I am proud to announce that thanks to this innovative strategy Teshie has celebrated subsequent Homowo in absolute peace and tranquillity. Now the era of stigmatisation by our leaders and other high profile personalities is gone forever. Teshie has now become a very attractive arena for development partners and businessmen.

He asked Ga-Dangme indigenes to stop fighting amongst themselves and rather help to jealously protect and promote their rich cultures and languages for posterity.