The 2025 Agotime Kente Festival highlighted a strong call to preserve Ghana’s cultural heritage and channel it into national development. At the grand durbar in Agotime-Kpetoe, the Chief of Staff at the Office of the Vice President, Alex Segbefia, who served as Special Guest of Honour, praised the global significance of kente and reaffirmed government’s commitment to investing in infrastructure, tourism, and regional growth.
Segbefia described the festival as a powerful expression of Ghana’s history, identity, and cultural influence. He noted that long before the national flag was adopted, kente stood as a proud symbol of identity during the independence struggle. Today, it continues to hold global recognition across the African diaspora and the fashion world.
“Kente weaves history and politics into a fabric that speaks both locally and globally,” he remarked, commending the Agotime people for hosting a festival that promotes cultural heritage while strengthening Ghana’s international cultural image.
Linking culture to development, Segbefia outlined government measures to advance tourism and infrastructure. He pointed to the inauguration of the Ghana Tourism Authority Governing Board by the Minister of Tourism, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, as part of a broader strategy to position Ghana as a competitive tourism hub.
He stressed that infrastructure remains vital to this vision, explaining that safe transport, affordable food, and quality healthcare are necessary to attract more visitors. Citing the government’s “Big Push Agenda” — a $2 billion annual investment over five years in health, education, and transport — he assured the public of measures to enhance tourism and service delivery.
Segbefia also gave specific assurances to the Volta Region, highlighting key projects such as the Eastern Corridor Road, Blekusu Sea Defence Project, Ho-Denu Road, and agricultural expansion programs. Responding to concerns raised by Paramount Chief Nene Nuer Keteku, he further announced that Agotime would be connected to the Adidome Water Project.
Touching on healthcare, he revealed plans to develop Ghana into a medical tourism hub, with the Ho Teaching Hospital expected to take a central role under a new governing board tasked with modernizing its operations.
In closing, Segbefia encouraged Ghanaians to embrace, preserve, and celebrate cultural traditions. “Let us explore their origins, keep them alive, and showcase our cultural creativity,” he urged.
He was later enstooled as a Development Chief of Agotime. Other speakers at the festival called for unity, patriotism, humility in leadership, and accelerated development for the Volta Region.