The Chiefs and people of Dzodze in the Ketu North Municipality have officially launched the 2025 edition of Deza (Palm Festival), renewing their call for greater investment in palm oil production to transform the area into a hub for agro-industrial growth.
This year’s festival, themed “Oil Palm Odyssey: Exploring the Economic Value of Oil Palm for Industrialization and Jobs in Ketu North,” seeks to raise funds for the cultivation of 56 acres of palm plantation to support large-scale production and processing.
Rev. Martin Amenakpor, Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ketu North, said the theme reflects the municipality’s vision of harnessing the full potential of oil palm as a driver of industrialization, job creation, and economic resilience.
“Oil palm is Ghana’s second most important non-traditional tree crop after cocoa under the Tree Crop Development Authority Initiative. Its growth will directly impact millions of people, create thousands of jobs across the value chain, and support government’s 24-hour economy agenda,” he stated.
He emphasised the need to adopt sustainable practices to address environmental challenges such as deforestation and land degradation.
Torgbui Dzoku V, Paramount Chief and President of the Dzodze Traditional Council, described the launch as a reaffirmation of the community’s core values of love, peace, and unity, which have guided Dzodze through years of development and chieftaincy disputes.
“Together, we can build an industrialized, resilient, and prosperous Dzodze recognized as a beacon of progress through agriculture, innovation, and entrepreneurship,” he said.
He announced that this year’s celebrations will feature traditional rites, a candlelight procession, a homecoming float for citizens in the diaspora, and a series of fundraising activities to support community development.
Torgbui Ege IV, Dutorfia of Fiagbedu and Chairman of the Deza Planning Committee, said the festival remains a symbol of Dzodze’s industriousness and resilience.
“From palm wine to palm oil, from palm kernel to brooms and baskets, the palm tree has sustained our people for generations. Deza is not just a festival but a platform for cultural identity, heritage preservation, and economic development,” he said.
He called on stakeholders, corporate bodies, and indigenes both home and abroad to support the festival, stressing that palm oil remains a “brown gold” with the potential to become a key pillar of Ghana’s agro-industrial transformation.
The 2025 De Za, which spans several weeks of cultural, educational, and social events, will be climaxed on October 25 with a colorful grand durbar of chiefs and people.