Member of Parliament for the area, Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa said that the community will soon benefit from an investment deal from the United States of America in the textile industry. This move, he said, will provide jobs for over 2000 youth in the area as well as generate income for the country through export.

He congratulated the people for launching the festival peacefully despite the absence of a paramount chief following the demise of the previous chief.  He also commended them on  their new community center project and urged them to do more to compliment the work of government.

Mr Ablakwa urged them to use this festival to address the issue of increasing levels of teenage pregnancies and school drop outs. He said that new statistics from the region indicate that attention must be paid to these areas.

Chairman for the Associaion, Mr Fabian Kojo Ellenu said that the objective is to showcase to Ghanaians  the uniqueness of their annual festival which is celebrated every year in the North Tongu District  of the Volta Region in Ghana, He said this year's theme has been chosen to place the youth at the forefront of development.

The Chairman said that nurturing the youth will allow them to promote development in the future. To acheive this, he asked that the youth be protected  from negative political influence and be provided   with the necessary skills and training.

Mr Ellenu said that preparations have been put in place to ensure the festival wil be peaceful and refreshing.

Admonishing the youth,  he urged them to be time conscious in whatever they do saying "if you do not achieve timeliness, you do not achieve anything".

The 65th Mepe Afenorto Festival Magazine was also launched with the first copy going for GHC5000.00

Dignitaries at the event were the Chiefs and Queenmother of the Mepe Traditional area, the King of the Igbo Community in Ghana, His Royal Majesty, Eze Dr Chukwudi Jude Ihenetu and the Member of Parliament for Ledzokuku, Dr Benard Okoe Boye.

The festival will begin on the 23rd of July 2019 and end on the 11th August 2019.