Don't Blame Me for Negative Publicity On Ghana

Togbe Korsi Ferdinand Gakpetor II, a.k.a. Henk Otte, the Dutch 'Ngorgbeyefia' of Mepe in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region, says he is not to blame for the negative publicity an Associated Press (AP) report on him generated on Ghana two years ago.

Instead, he blames the AP reporters who interviewed him, and the lack of understanding by western journalists of the differences between chiefs and kings as responsible for the negative publicity. " I never said anything bad about the people of Mepe or Ghana.

I'm very proud to be a chief in a rich culture like the Ghanaian culture, " Otte wrote in an e-mail to the Chronicle.

The e-mail was in response to a Chronicle story, headlined "Dutch 'Togbe' Makes Waves as film on him causes a stir," in the Thursday, October 18, 2001 edition to the paper.

Otte described as incorrect the report by the AP early last year, which painted him as a jobless Dutchman from the streets of Amsterdam who had been made 'King of Ghana' as incorrect.

The report, which spiraled other reports by American and European newspapers and television networks and appeared in a number of TV documentaries in South Africa, Australia and Thailand, drew the ire of Ghanaians abroad.

They subsequently inundated the Castle, Osu, with numerous protests over the installation of foreigners with little or no knowledge of the Ghanaian culture, as chiefs.

But according to Otte, he never told the AP that he was King of Ghana.

"I never told anyone that I'm a King or the King of Ghana; I always told the journalists that I'm a Development Chief. But the western journalists see all the chiefs in Ghana as kings. That is how they look at the chiefs, not only at me

According to Otte, though the new film on him, "Togbe", which is currently airing on some American networks, talked on the protests by some Ghanaians abroad, it is not a bad film.

The film, he argued, is part of his efforts at sourcing funds for the development of Mepe.

Below is letter:

Dear Mr. Ogbamey, I just read your article about the film "Togbe".

From your story, I believe you did not see the film. It is not a bad film.

Yes, in the film they talked about the problems that happened last year, but that doesn't make the film bad. I think it is only honest to talk about it.

I never put Ghanaians or the people of Mepe in a negative light. If I talk about Ghana or Ghanaians I do that with love and respect.

I never told anyone that I'm a King, or the King of Ghana; I always told the journalists that I'm a Development Chief. But the western journalists see all the chiefs in Ghana as Kings.

That is how they look to the Chiefs, not only at me.

When the Reel Films asked me to make this film I said yes, only because I see this as a great opportunity to help the people of Mepe with their projects.

The money that will come from this film will be used for the projects. I'm a Development Chief and I must find a way to do my job as such. I cannot sit in my house the whole day and do nothing. Then, nothing will happen.

I'm not unemployed. It is due to an accident that I cannot work anymore.

I don't live on welfare as I get my money through a kind of an insurance policy as I still have a construction company with my brother.

I am not jobless. I feel so sorry that I only see negative publications about me in Ghana.

The story about the reincarnation is not coming from me.

I don't believe in reincarnation and I wish they [Mepe folks] never mentioned that to the press.

Unfortunately their [interview] was one interview which changed some of my answers and that has causes all these troubles.

If I say that I did not say those things, no one believes me.

I am with my wife of 20 years and she will never allow me to insult her people or country.

I will also never insult Ghana or her people because I love Ghana.

I am an honest person and I love the people of Mepe, because it is the place where the family comes from.

All I want to do is to help the people of Mepe with their projects, and one bad interview must not destroy this.

The film (Togbe) doesn't show Ghanaians in a negative light.

The story in the AP was not correct.

Once again, I never said anything bad about the people of Mepe or Ghana because I'm very proud to be a Chief in a rich culture like the Ghanaian culture.

I hope that your view of me will change one day, because if people believe me or not, I love Ghana and that comes from the deepest of my soul.

Henk Otte.