“The main challenges to our progress are partisanship, lawlessness, and tribalism.” Togbe Afede XIV
Togbe Afede XIV, the Agbogbomefia of Asogli, has expressed grave concerns about the rise in criminality, excessive political partisanship, and tribalism in Ghana.
“While real leaders are committed to uniting their people, here in our country, everything is tribalised or politicised,” he said while speaking at the 2024 Asogli Te Za Grand Durbar in Ho.
Recent partisan and tribalistic responses to natural calamities, such the tidal waves in southern Volta, were cited by Togbe Afede XIV as proof of a concerning tendency.
A culture that is overly politicised and without regard for the truth have fostered corruption and greed, “which I believe have been the biggest obstacles to our development,” he said.
He criticised leaders for prioritising their own fortune over the advancement of the country.
Our leaders have been concentrating on property ownership, while others are more concerned with growth. In the heedless race for the national resources that are rightfully ours, they have supplanted our colonial overlords.
“Our democracy has become an enterprise that benefits a few,” he remarked, characterising Ghana’s democracy as desecrated.
“The same individuals who have been given our responsibility to care for Ghana have turned her into an orphan child who has been sexually assaulted. Corrupt officials chip away at the very roots of our development, much like termites do to woodwork.
Togbe Afede XIV compared many political office seekers to wolves in sheep’s garb and chastised them for being self-serving. “By the grace of the good Lord, we shall recognise the bad ones in their disguise,” he said, expressing hope nonetheless.
He cited indiscipline and lawlessness as two of society’s biggest problems. Poverty and a lack of accountability were blamed for recent violent episodes, including the deaths of students and a jail guard, rising armed robberies, and lynchings of innocent people.
“All of these are the outcomes of hardship, poverty, and the ensuing lawlessness.”
With a youthful and expanding population and a relatively peaceful populace, Togbe Afede XIV underlined Ghana’s potential for greatness. But he cautioned that partisan politics, a lack of transparency, and dishonesty are threatening the stability of the nation.
“We have been exposed to so many falsehoods that it is now extremely challenging for us to distinguish between what is true and what is not.”
He described how he was personally demonised for returning unmerited ex-gratia payments.
“I recently fell victim to this myself when I returned money that was given to me as ex-gratia that I felt was unjustified. I regrettably gave the appearance that I was an absentee member of the Council with the help of the secretariat of the Council of State.
According to Togbe Afede XIV, such dishonesty may discourage foreign investment.
“Investors only feel accepted in environments with discipline and where the law is upheld.”
In order to save the country from its hazardous situation, he called for leadership based on justice, truth, and the rule of law.
