The 2025 edition of Deza (Palm Festival) has been launched in Dzodze, Ketu North Municipality, with chiefs and people renewing their appeal for strategic investment in oil palm production to transform the area into a key agro-industrial hub.
Themed “Oil Palm Odyssey: Exploring the Economic Value of Oil Palm for Industrialization and Jobs in Ketu North,” this year’s festival goes beyond cultural celebration to focus on raising funds for the cultivation of a 56-acre palm plantation. The initiative is aimed at positioning Dzodze as a centre for large-scale palm oil production and processing.
Rev. Martin Amenakpor, Municipal Chief Executive for Ketu North, said oil palm’s value chain could become a powerful tool for job creation, entrepreneurship, and the government’s 24-hour economy agenda. “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 and boost industrialization,” he noted.
Torgbui Dzoku V, Paramount Chief and President of the Dzodze Traditional Council, highlighted the project as a symbol of renewed unity and progress. “Together, we can build an industrialized, resilient, and prosperous Dzodze recognized as a beacon of progress through agriculture, innovation, and entrepreneurship,” he said.
Festival organisers are also encouraging corporate bodies and the diaspora community to contribute to the fundraising drive, describing palm oil as “brown gold” with the potential to rival cocoa in economic significance.
While Deza retains its cultural roots with traditional rites, candlelight processions, and a grand durbar of chiefs and people scheduled for October 25, the 2025 edition is being framed as a turning point for Dzodze’s economic future.
