Photos: Hundreds gathered for Klefe’s new yam hailing carnival

Huge crowds, comprising chiefs, locals, and revelers, assembled for Klefe's annual new yam hailing carnival in the Ho Municipality, Volta Region. The festival marked the arrival of the new yam, a significant event in the community, with customs and traditions taking center stage. Heavy traffic ensued as throngs of people converged on Klefe junction for the festivities.

Various activities preceded the carnival, signifying the lifting of the ban on consuming new yam and its arrival into the community. As the carnival unfolded, participants slid down Klefe's hills into the community, rejoicing at the fresh yam's presence. Some danced to lively music played from truck-mounted speakers, while others savored Borborbor, Kpalongo, or Jama, catering to diverse tastes.

Guided by community elders, the carnival journeyed through Achatime, Dome, and Demete communities before regrouping at a community park in Achatime for the event's pinnacle. Evans Kwami Buami, the Klefe Yam Festival Planning Committee Chairman, touted the carnival as one of the most extensive in recent years. He announced a series of activities for the 2026 Klefe Yam Festival, including a football tournament, traditional dance performances, and the ancestral journey, aiming to gain national recognition and secure a spot on the national annual festival calendar.

Beyond cultural enrichment and recreation, the festival also serves as a fundraiser for Klefe Traditional Area's infrastructure development. The committee has already constructed a boys' dormitory for the Klefe Technical School, which will be officially opened during the grand durbar on September 26, 2026, in time for the 2026/2027 academic year admissions.