Lobi ethnic group in Gonjaland has celebrated their annual farming festival known as “Djokuulbina” at a community called Kporiju in the Sawla/Tuna/Kalba District of the Savannah Region as a new farming season begins.
The festival was celebrated on the theme “Unity and peace, the bedrock for development; the role of the Lobi youth”.
In a welcome address, the president of the Lobi Youth Association on behalf of the Lobi ethnic group said the mainden home coming summit by the lobi youth association in collaboration with the planners of the Djokuulbina farming festival is not new to the Lobis in Ivory-Coast but has been abandoned and forgotten by their counterparts in Ghana.
According to him, the festival is very unique and historic in the life of the Lobi farmers because it serves as a whistle blower to the farmers as they celebrate, it brings people from national and international boarders together, it is a ground for business men and women and also a ground for making friends and that it builds inter or intra tribal relationship.
The Lobi Youth President added that their stay with the Gonjas is relatively peaceful hence the Yagbonwura who is the overlord of the Gonja kingdom realizing that the once Lobi/Brifor tribe which is often described as acephalous or stateless has appointed two of Lobi/Brifo leaders to the higher office of the savannah regional house of chiefs to represent the lobis/brifos at the Bole and Kong tradional areas respectively.
The Lobi Youth President appealed to the chiefs and the regional minister to help resolve the famer and Fulani herdsmen conflict in the Savannah Region.
He also appealed to the regional minister minister to ensure the extention of electricity to some of the Lobi communities surrounding Kporiju and also work on the road network to open up the area.
The Savannah Regional Minister Hon Saeed Muhazu Jibril Jegede assured the Lobis of his commitment to ensure they get their share of the national cake.
The Savannah Regional Minister charged the Lobis to give due respect and recognition to the custodians of the land to reduce conflicts.
He also used the same opportunity to charge custodians of the land (Gonjas) to also recognise and respect the soo called acephalous groups and that when this happens, they can coexist as a people “.
Story by; Adam Akilu Gideon Abrantie
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