Afede Calls For Economic Integration

The Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State in the Volta region, Togbe Afede XIV has called on African leaders to remain committed to the integration of African economies.

“If we cannot come together as one state in Africa, the least we can do is to integrate our economies,” he said.

Togbe Afede, who is also an entrepreneur, made the call during the grand durbar of the Asogli Yam Festival in Ho over the weekend.

He noted that “in today’s competitive world, numbers matter a lot. One thing that makes Brazil, Russia, India and China and South Africa common is size.”

He said “even the Europeans who divided us have now formed the European Union (EU), hence making it a tall order for independent African countries to compete.

He added that “competition for space in the international economy with our small countries will not bring much results, but doing it as a bloc will.”

The President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs said a deal on water transport for the operation of boat shuttles between Kpando, Krachi and Buipe and other sites along the Volta Lake was in the offing. He bemoaned selfish, bad political and traditional leadership which he said had plunged many black states into poverty and underdevelopment.

Lt. General Henry Smith, who spoke on behalf of the President, noted that Ghana must not waste time in this century else “we will be far behind.”

According to him, the country has the ability to take advantage of the numerous opportunity of the century to develop and become a dominant economy in the world.

The Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Henry Ametefe also commended the Asogli State for transforming the Yam Festival into an international spectacle.