Togbe Kporku III, Dufia of Alakple described Togbe Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia of Asogli as the “shooting star” of the Volta Region, whose major focus is the development of the region and Ghana.

He observed that within 10 years of Togbe Afede’s installation, he brought “new life, vigour” and new vision into traditional leadership, championing people-centred development and “opening new vistas in commerce, business and industry”.

Togbe Kporku made the observation in a lecture to mark the 10th anniversary of Togbe Afede’s enthronement, which also coincides with this year’s Asogli Yam Festival celebrations.

It was on the theme: “Agbogbomefia and the redefinition of traditional leadership.”

Togbe Kporku recounted the contributions of Togbe Afede to national development since his installation and said:, “In the last 10 years, Togbe Afede has demonstrated that chieftaincy is not a romantic outpouring of wealth and status and that leadership is substance, not ornaments.”

He described Togbe Afede as a “lone ranger” who epitomises positive virtues of voluntarism, honesty, humility, industry, hard work, integrity and accountability, “the hallmarks of the voltarian”.

Togbe Kporku recalled how Togbe Afede organised  the first ever Volta Congress, a year after his installation and collated  development plans of the region into a single document and led some chiefs and entrepreneurs to the People’s Republic of China to explore opportunities.

He said one of the results of the China trip is the Sunon-Asogli Power Plant and commended Togbe Afede for the effort.

Togbe Kporku said the achievements of Togbe Afede indicated that with collaboration, chiefs could find answers to problems facing the region and Ghana.

“There has never been shortage of good intentions and plans when we talk of the development of our dear region. What we lack is ...tenacity and singleness of purpose… We fail to walk the talk. We are the rainbow region of Ghana and we must blend our individual colours as in a rainbow-delightful, distinguish and dignified,” he said.

Togbe Kporku said traditional institutions provide leadership roles in mobilising people for community development and called for respect for traditional authority and cultural values to give these values a strong leverage above foreign ones.

Togbe Afede said chiefs in the region need to do more to bring good health, quality education and prosperity to the people.

He called for attitudinal change, unity and purposefulness.

Togbe Afede commended the indigenes for their support in the past 10 years and pledged to continue to work for the accelerated development of Asogli State, the region and Ghana and called for support.

Togbe Afede, known in private life as James Akpo, was installed Togbe Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia of Asogli in 2003.

He is currently the President of the Volta Region House of Chiefs and owns Strategic African Security (SAS) Finance Group.

SAS Finance Group is an integrated investment banking and corporate finance advisory company established in 1994, which comprises Strategic African Securities Limited and SAS Investment Management Limited.

GNA