In a vibrant display of cultural pageantry, the Ashanti Kpoeta community in the Ho West District of the Volta Region came alive on Saturday, 8th November 2025, as they celebrated the Hletivi (Star) Festival in grand style. The colourful ceremony, which was replete with traditional pomp and pageantry, served as a poignant reminder of the community's rich cultural heritage.

The festival, which was attended by dignitaries and residents alike, provided a platform for stakeholders to reflect on the community's history and chart a way forward. Hon. Sena Groponi, the Assembly Member of the area, in his address, took a swipe at the past, recounting the tortuous journey of the community from idol worship to the advent of Christianity. He noted that the community's acceptance of Christianity was facilitated by the labours of Christian missionaries who established schools that catered for both Christians and Traditional Religious adherents.

According to oral tradition, the community's graduates from these schools, who were products of the cross-pollination between Christian and non-Christian kids of school-going age, played a pivotal role in shaping the community's destiny. However, this intermingling was not without its costs, as revelatory investigation revealed that the death of several children was attributed to this very cross-pollination. It was this realisation that led to a covenant between Christians and non-Christians to bury their differences and forge a common path, symbolised by the erection of an emolumental stone burial in a sacred site.



A Call to Action

The festival also provided an opportunity for stakeholders to make impassioned pleas to the government and philanthropists to assist the community. Torgbui Gadze 9th, Dufia of Ashanti Kpoeta, used the occasion to appeal to illustrious sons and daughters of the community to return home and invest in education and healthcare infrastructure. "Government cannot do it all," he declared, urging the government to fulfil its obligations by tying the community's streets to facilitate the movement of agricultural produce.

The Dufia also took a swipe at the government, stating that the community, which is the food basket of the Volta Region, needed support to provide without the risk of glut as farmers have unfettered access to markets. "We're the food basket of the Volta Region," he emphasised, "and must be helped by government to provide without the risk of glut as farmers have access freely to markets."

Vimekpor Navo Bumelpor, one of the residents and a celebrant, expressed joy and pride in the celebrations, stating that one of the aims of this year's festival was to raise funds to provide water for the community.

Healthcare a Priority

The healthcare needs of the community were also given a boost as BENADAK Herbal Clinic donated free bottles of immune boosters to the indigenes, especially the aged, and offered free healthcare screening to those in the community. The gesture by BENADAK Herbal Clinic has no doubt endeared the clinic to the hearts of the people of Ashanti Kpoeta. The community's residents, who turned out in their droves to access the clinic's services, lauded the management for their kindness and generosity.

The Hletivi Festival has once again come and gone, leaving in its wake a renewed sense of purpose and hope for the people of Ashanti Kpoeta. As the community looks to the future, it is clear that the healthcare needs of its people will remain a priority.