Togbe Afede blames poverty of black states on bad leadership

Togbe Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, has blamed the level of poverty and disputes in black states across the world on bad leadership.

He said leaders of those countries played up tribal and other differences among their people than uniting them for development.

Togbe Afede was addressing a durbar in Ho on Saturday to climax the 2012 Yam Festival of the chiefs and people of Asogli.

He said traditional leaders should be selfless and contribute to national development, and criticized the sale of community lands by some chiefs and the use of state resources for personal gains by politicians.

The chief regretted that African youth had become pawn of politicians, and observed that “while in some other countries students were so gripped by thoughts to contribute to society when out of school, in Ghana tertiary students are entangled by politics.”

Togbe Afede said Ghanaian youth believed that the surest way to acquire wealth was through politics.

He reiterated his call for the rapid integration of the African continent into an economic block, just as was happening in Europe.

Togbe Afede appealed to politicians to lower the tension in the country to ensure peaceful elections in December.

He said the sister region ties between the Volta Region and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of China, under the aegis of the chiefs, had resulted in deals to help improve agriculture and health.

Togbe Afede said a deal on water transport for the operation of boat shuttles between Kpando and some Lake side marketing towns along the middle course of the Volta Lake, was in the offing.

Lieutenant-General Joseph Henry Smith, Minister of Defence, who represented President John Mahama, lauded the dynamism of Togbe Afede, who he said had made the Asogli Festival one of the prestigious traditional events in Ghana.

Mr Henry Ametefe, Deputy Volta Regional Minister, in message read on behalf of Mr Henry Ford Kamel, the Regional Minister, said peace in the Asogli State has enhanced development in the area.

Togbe Agorkorli IV, Ewe Fia (Ewe Chief) of Togo, and Chief of Notsie, said Togbe Afede’s contributions to development cut across borders.

Nana Mprah Besemuna, III, Paramount Chief of Krachi Traditional Area, lauded Togbe Afede for building bonds between traditional areas in the region and the country regardless of distance.

The durbar was characterized by traditional dancing, from the graceful to the physical, magical displays, frolicking and competitive marketing overtures by the major mobile telecommunication companies, which pitched camps around the arena.

Mr Kofi Wayo, Leader of the United Renaissance Party, was among political party representatives who attended the durbar.

Highlights of the Asogli Yam Festival 2012, which ends on Sunday, September 23, with a thanksgiving service at the various churches, included a visit to Notsie in Togo from where the Ewes in Ghana were said to have migrated.

The rest were games, kid’s programmes, a beauty contest and agricultural shows.