The lessons I have learned through my travels and interactions with people of various races, have led me to narrow down the cause of our problems to, amongst others: selfishness and greed, most of us, specially our leaders, politicians, chiefs and cooperate leaders alike, want everything for themselves.
Our political leaders must remember that the people did not place their destiny into their hands only for them to develop predatory tendencies on assumption of power, and through that they deprived the people of development that they yearn for.”
These were the expressed statement of Togbe Afede XIV, the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, who doubles as the President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs at the Yam Festival grand durbar held over the weekend at the Jubilee Park in Ho.
Touching on the development of Ghana, Togbe Afede XIV asserted that the country’s development needs pragmatic action because that was what our youth were yearning for.
According to him, development is a shared responsibility and tasked all Ghanaians to partner with government to develop Ghana. “Development, particularly equitable development is important for promoting peace and unit, most conflicts are simply over limited resource, and incidentally without peace and unity we cannot have development. So development, peace and unity are important bedfellows,” he stated.
He said the youth of the country wanted development that would bring jobs, income to improve upon their living standards and noted that this would remain a mirage if the youth fail to make efforts in contributing their quota towards achieving ‘our common dream’.
Furthermore, Togbe Afede, who is part of the President Mills team of the nation lamented over the poor state of the Volta Region, he disclosed that he has been receiving reports on how the Ewe land is lacking behind in development, stating “That is a matter of fact, but the reality is that this is the lot of the entire black race from Haiti in the central America to Kenya in East Africa poverty has remain our lot.”
He said the way forward was to ask “ourselves why we are retrogressing in the Ewe land, the question that should occupy our minds today is why we are retrogressing, that should provide us with answers to the question and how do we get out of the mess.”
He reiterated that development is a shared responsibility and not for the political leaders only,” the traditional leaders, ordinary citizens and even students have a role play, hence our theme for this celebration.”
He thanked the government for supporting the Sunon Asogli Power project and the chiefs and people of Ga Mashie, Osu for agreeing to partner with him in the implementation of the Gold Coast City project.
The Vice President, John Dramani Mahama, in his statement called on tolerance among Ghanaians and our traditional leaders in the country.
“The presence of the Deasibra Nana Osei Bonsu, Mamponghene representing the Ashanti Kingdom, Greater Accra chief among other chiefs present at the function signifies the unity among traditional leaders” he said.
The Vice President Mahama revealed that the Eastern corridor project that involves road construction which would start from Tema and pass through Volta region to the Northern part of the country would bring immense economic breakthrough for Voltarians.
Mr. Mahama said the committee working on the construction of the two new public universities in the Brong Ahafo region and Volta region are working assiduously for the work to begin. He said government is committed in its promise of better Ghana agenda which has received major investment in agriculture, road constructions and all that is needed for the development of our nation.
