Accra: The Chiefs and people of Avenorpedo in the Akatsi South Municipality have celebrated the 39th edition of the Agbeliza Festival at the EP School Park, under the theme: 'From Vision to Impact, Strengthening Our Health System Through Consolidation.'
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Raphael Kofi Ahiable, Assembly Member for the area, delivered the welcome address on behalf of the Dufia of Avenorpedo, Torgbi Kugli Dzogbede V. He emphasized that the theme urged the community to intensify efforts to achieve its goals while supporting the local health centre with projects aimed at improving the facility.
Mr Ahiable highlighted the community's commitment to the theme, demonstrated by the fencing of the EP School Park, construction of an information centre, and the ongoing medical laboratory project. He expressed gratitude to Mr Bernard Ahiafor, Member of Parliament for Akatsi South and First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, for donating 200 bags of cement toward the construction of the medical laboratory ahead of last year's celebration, when the project had only reached the foundation level.
The community judiciously used the donation to complete the laboratory's superstructure, comprising a waiting area, sample-taking room with two washrooms, technicians' changing room, a spacious laboratory hall with a washroom and bin area, as well as an additional hall for other uses. Mr Ahiable noted that 51 bags of cement remained after the laboratory project and were used to raise the height of the EP School fence wall, demonstrating prudent management of resources.
He thanked dignitaries who attended the previous year's Agbeliza, including Mr James Gunu, Volta Regional Minister, and appealed to Mr Ahiafor to fulfill his commitment made at last year's durbar to undertake the roofing and finishing of the laboratory. Mr Ahiable also appealed to Mr Ahiafor to brief Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and MP for North Tongu, on the laboratory's current status, to enable him to provide facilities to furnish the building, in line with a pledge he made at the 2024 Agbeliza durbar.
The community's target for this year is to raise at least GHS300,000 towards constructing a nurses' bungalow at the Avenorpedo Health Centre, once the MP takes up the finishing of the laboratory. Mr Ahiable appealed to residents and stakeholders to contribute towards achieving the target.
He commended Mr Ahiafor for recommending to the Akatsi South Municipal Assembly that the U-shaped classroom block at the EP School be considered for renovation to avert risks posed by its current condition to teachers and learners. Mr Ahiable presented a request to the MP and Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the construction of a one-unit, three-classroom Junior High School block with an office near Saint Thomas RC Primary School, noting the existing JHS block was too far from the primary section and was no longer befitting. He commended teachers for producing impressive Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results despite the challenges.
On community organization, Mr Ahiable called on the Agbeliza Central Planning Committee to hold regular evaluation meetings to review its activities and improve strategies for subsequent celebrations. He also urged residents to adhere to the newly approved funeral planning document to ensure sanity and unity in the conduct of funerals.
Mr Ahiable paid tribute to Avenorpedo artisans whose sacrifices contributed to the construction of the EP School fence walls and medical laboratory, and thanked residents who participated in communal labour and paid development levies. The Ghana News Agency gathered that this year's Agbeliza Festival featured several activities, including a football gala, clean-up exercise, candlelight procession, and artistes' night, among others.