Togbe Afede XIV, the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli Traditional Area, has spoken out about a deeply troubling experience during his visit to the Jubilee House in 2020 under the leadership of President Nana Akufo-Addo. The traditional leader shared that he and other chiefs from the Volta Region were left “embarrassed and denigrated” when they sought the President’s help regarding the heavy military presence in their region ahead of the 2020 general elections.

During a passionate address on January 24, 2025, as part of President John Dramani Mahama’s ‘Thank You’ tour in the Volta Region, Togbe Afede XIV recalled the tense encounter. He and his fellow chiefs had gone to the presidency to appeal for the withdrawal of soldiers deployed to the area, fearing their presence was intimidating voters. Instead, they were met with harsh criticism and accusations.

“I recall that in 2020, when Volta felt under siege from soldiers sent to Accra in the lead-up to the elections, we, a good number of us from the Volta House of Chiefs, visited President Akufo-Addo to appeal for mercy on our people,” Togbe Afede explained. “Sadly, we were criticized in front of the Volta Regional Minister and John Peter Amewu. They denigrated and embarrassed us. It was an incredibly sad experience.”

The chiefs were accused of orchestrating illegal activities, including transporting voters from Togo to cast ballots on behalf of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Togbe Afede XIV strongly rejected these claims, calling them false and deeply offensive.

“For instance, it was said that I, Togbe, was going around interfering with voter registration, which was not true,” he said. “They accused us of being NDC supporters who brought in voters from Togo and kept them for weeks to vote for the NDC. These were the comments made in our presence, and it was not palatable at all.”

In a contrasting note, Togbe Afede XIV praised President Mahama for appointing James Gunu as the new Volta Regional Minister, expressing confidence that he would be more supportive and respectful than his predecessor, Dr. Archibald Letsa, who served during Akufo-Addo’s tenure.

“We know your Regional Minister will not be like the one we just had,” Togbe Afede XIV said, referring to Gunu’s more favorable leadership.

The comments shed light on the deep frustrations felt by some traditional leaders in the Volta Region during the previous administration, and reflect the broader tensions that surfaced in the lead-up to the 2020 elections.

Source:TheDotNews