By Nelson Ayivor
The Chiefs, Queen mothers and people of the Penyi Traditional Area in the Ketu North Municipality of the Volta region, on Saturday, October 11, celebrated their annual “Ngoryiza” (Festival) with renewed commitment to the socio- cultural and economic development of the area.
Held under the theme: “Penyi Youths at the Heart of the 24-Hour Economy Pursuit,” the grand durbar of the festival was a massive scene of rich cultural display and pageantry, blending tradition with transformation and highlighting the central role of the younger generation in shaping the future of Ghana’s economic transformation, especially within the context of the government’s bold 24-hour economy agenda.
Speaking at the event, Paramount Chief and President of the Penyi Traditional Council, Torgbiga Dadzie V expressed his profound gratitude to the festival’s central planning committee, the Chiefs, Queen mothers and all indigenes of Penyi for their unflinching support over the years, urging them not to rest on their oars in the years ahead.
Reflecting on the significance of the festival, Torgbiga Dadzie V said Ngoryiza is an annual celebration of heritage and unity by the people of Penyi and has been observed for generations. He emphasized the need to preserve it while using it as a platform for development.
Torgbiga Dadzie V stressed that agriculture remains a big dream for the youth of Penyi, calling for renewed interest in farming as a key to both local economic empowerment and national food security. He urged the youth to take farming seriously and contribute to the promotion of agriculture in the country.
The Paramount Chief also used the platform to appeal to government to build an ICT Centre in Penyi to help bridge the digital gap and provide young people with access to modern technology.
Additionally, he appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to consider establishing a technical/ vocational training centre in the community to equip the youth with employable skills.
Torgbiga Dadzie V commended the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ketu North, Hon. Eric Edem Agbana for his impactful work in the Ketu North constituency, praising the MP for initiatives such as the introduction of a scholarship scheme, which he described as a life line that is making education more accessible for students, and the annual awards scheme for teachers, which is boosting morale and performance in the education sector.
Torgbiga Dadzie V described these efforts as timely and worthy of recognition, while calling on all indigenes of Penyi and the entire Ketu North to support efforts aimed at making the area more prosperous for future generations.
He further called for unity, togetherness and fellow-feeling among all indigenes of the area while “we work together for a better and prosperous Penyi.
Augustus Goosie Tanoh, Presidential Advisor on the 24-Hour Economy Initiative, represented President Mahama at the celebration. He connected the festival to the administration’s economic agenda, explaining that the 24-Hour Economy Initiative includes a program called “Show 24” designed to strengthen Ghana’s creative youth.
Tanoh suggested that Ngoryiza could grow into an international event, creating jobs in hospitality, fashion, logistics, and digital content creation. He urged residents to maintain vision, courage, and collective determination, emphasizing that development encompasses culture, identity, and belonging rather than merely buildings and roads.
“People of this area have contributed to national development through music, dance, food, language among others,” Tanoh said, arguing that entrepreneurial and creative skills deserve recognition and celebration.
The intersection of cultural preservation and tourism development represents both opportunity and tension in many Ghanaian communities. While festivals can attract visitors and generate revenue, concerns sometimes arise about whether commercialization might dilute traditional practices or whether tourism benefits actually reach local residents.
Hon. Eric Edem Agbana, the Member of Parliament for Ketu North for his part, praised the people of Penyi for their strong sense of culture, unity, and community spirit. He reiterated his commitment to supporting development across the municipality, urging all the constituents to have confidence in the NDC government, while assuring them that under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, the government will do everything possible to bring more developmental projects to Penyi and the wider Ketu North constituency.
The festival’s celebration represented both achievement and aspiration for Penyi—achievement in reviving cultural traditions and aspiration for the infrastructure development that might translate cultural capital into improved living conditions for residents. Whether the attention generated by annual celebrations translates into sustained development momentum depends partly on how effectively traditional leaders, political representatives, and residents can maintain pressure on government and other stakeholders beyond festival season.
For now, Penyi Ngoryiza serves multiple purposes: preserving cultural identity, strengthening community bonds, potentially attracting tourism interest, and providing a platform for articulating development needs to visiting officials. The challenge lies in converting these annual moments of visibility into concrete improvements addressing the basic infrastructure gaps that continue limiting opportunities for Penyi residents.