The President of the National House of Chiefs, the Agbogbomefia Togbe Afede XIV, has revealed that his name was yanked from the programme for this year's National Farmers Day held in Ho at the eleventh hour.
Although, he did not assign any reason as to why his name was taken off whilst he was speaking at a meeting of the National House of Chiefs in Kumasi on Thursday morning [December 12, 2019], it is believed that it was apparently due to the statement issued by the National House of Chiefs on the rejection of partisan politics at the local level ahead of the withdrawn December 17th referendum.
Togbe Afede, who is also the Paramount Chief of the Asogli Traditional Area said he had been informed he was going to be the chairman of the programme which was held in Ho on Friday, December 6, 2019.
And indeed, he travelled to Ho a day earlier, only for his name to be removed from the list at the last minute, he said.
Recounting the processes that led to the issuance of the statement to members at the final meeting of the House for the year, Togbe Afede said the reactions by Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi, Chief of the Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Area and President of the Western Regional House of Chiefs was unfortunate, misleading and mostly untrue.
Togbe Afede said following thorough discussions on the matter by members, it was referred to the Governance and Development Committee of which Ogyeahoho Gyebi was the chairman.
Indeed, according to Togbe Afede, the matter was referred to the committee on two occasions, therefore, it will be wrong for Ogyeahoho Gyebi to say he knew nothing about it and members were not consulted.
Strangely, the three chiefs who criticised the statement publicly, Nana Professor S. K. B. Asante, the Asokoremanhene, the Okyenhen, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin II and Ogyeaboho Gyebi were all absent at Thursday's meeting.
The House subsequently, removed Ogyeahoho Gyebi as the Chair of the Governance and Development Committee with immediate effect, because according to Torgbui, it was the second time he had gone public to criticised a unanimous decision taken by the house.
The other two were spared but the Naba Sigri Bewag, Sekoti Naba, insisted they apologise for bringing the house into disrepute.
Togbe Afede said in the said statement, the house never canvased for a 'NO' vote but rather based on the legal committee's report (presented by Nana Prof S.K. B. Asante), it called for rejection of partisan politics at the local level.
He said the statement from the House had come out earlier before the NDC's 'NO' vote canvas and therefore, the two could not be linked.
The President of the National House of Chiefs said he was committed to doing the best for Ghana and the House and did not become president to mislead the views of the House.
Judge
A Supervising High Court Judge, Justice Kofi Akrowiah, admonished traditional rulers to try and stay off partisan politics to earn the respect of all Ghanaians and promote unity.
He told the House that it was necessary for them to maintain their neutrality no matter the provocation.
Justice Akrowiah who was in the House to swear in a new member, Tuluwe Wura Sulemana Rashid Mahama, said the confusion that followed the statement from the House on the now cancelled national referendum on whether or not partisan politics should be allowed at local level elections was unnecessary and avoidable.
He said the role of chiefs in sustaining the country's democracy was crucial which calls for common purpose, unity and objectivity.
The judge urged members to stand by decisions taken by the House even if they do not agree to avoid mockery and disrespect in the public domain.
Source: graphic.com.gh
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
What is partisan about asking for a no vote on a referendum? I don't understand ooo
This so-called Togbe Afede lacks basic common sense and has cheapened that dirty little kitchen stool that he sits on in that Ho village. Chiefs don't come out in public and declare sides on divisive issues but rather summon or better still go to presidents and give their advise in private. When you openly take sides in controversial issues, you force others to speak against you and that lowers your esteem. He is also vindictive and petty. You think pushing to have the Ogyeahoho out of that position will serve any purpose?? His domain is bigger and more prestigious than yours, if you care to know. His lack of common sense is buttressed further by he complaining about his name been yanked out of the Farmers' Day dignitary list as if it was even there in the first place. so Childish!! You have stupidly and consistently fought against Akans saaa!with statements like" I felt like a half-Ghanaian during Kuffuor's govt" and your opposition to the creation of Oti region. You are always bearing grudges all over the place because of the little money you have made from the Chinese anaa. Just remember that you're a chief who sits on a kitchen stool in your HO village wai.
WESTERN TOGO LAND IN MAKING..PLEASE SINCE YOU GUYS ARE NOT GHANAIANS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO RELOCATE OR PUSH HARD TO GET YOUR LAND BACK. EWE PEOPLE LOVE POST TOO MUSH! AND FOUK EVERYONE WHO COMMENT ON DIZ IN FACT FOCK YOU ALL MODERFOKERS. LOOOOOOL
Masa, even if you do not appreciate the whole story, you mean to tell the whole world that, even the advise from the judge too, you do not appreciate that too? From what the above report, do you now realize it was a unanimous decision by the whole house and not Afede's? If you are wise yourself, you should rather speak to the 3 "political" chiefs who felt the house' decision was against the sitting president...... A typical case of the Pot calling the kettle black....Mr wise man in his own wisdom!!! Even if, assuming Afede acted on his own accord, was the approach of the 3 chiefs the best since the Afede is the president and that matter. the "face" of the house? Papa nyansaninn!!! Remove the log in your eyes first wai.....
IT IS EXPECTED OF TRADITIONAL LEADERS TO ACT WITH WISDOM OF ELDERS AS ACCORDED THEM IN THE SOCIETY.THE CHIEFS MIGHT HAVE DECIDED NOT TO BACK PARTISAN ELECTIONS IN THE DISTRICTS. BUT SINCE THIS WAS NOT MADE PUBLIC BEFORE THE NDC DECLARATION FOR NO VOTE, THE CHIEFS SHOULD HAVE REVISED THEIR NOTES TO AVOID APPEARING PARTISAN. THE CALL FOR NO VOTE BY TOGBE AFEDZI WAS VERY UNFORTUNATE, LACKING TRADITIONAL WISDOM OF CHIEFS KNOWN TO BE BRIDGES OF DIFFERENT OPINION FOR DIFFERENT PARTIES. HOW WOULD THEY EXPECT ANYBODY TO LISTEN TO THEM WHEN THEY OPENLY EXHIBITED PARTISAN TRAITS. WE WISH THAT OUR CHIEFS SHOULD BE GUIDED BY THE WISDOM OF ELDERS TO PRESERVE THE DIGNITY OF OUR CULTURE THAT THEY REPRESENT AND KEEP THE SOCIETY UNITED.