Togbe Afede Elected President of  National House of Chiefs

The Agbogbomefia of Asogli, Togbe Afede, has been elected as the new President of the national house of chiefs with an overwhelming majority votes as against his three contenders for the position. 

He polled 25 of the 49 votes cast with his closet challenger, Awulae Atibrukusu, paramount chief of Lower Axim getting 13 votes. 

Placing third in the race was the paramount chief of Akyem Abuakwa in the Eastern region, Osafyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin who got 10 votes with Nana Kobina Nketsiah, paramount chief of Esikado in the western region who managed only three of the votes. 

One of the 50-member reconstituted National House of Chiefs was absent. 

The elections were supervised by a team of the electoral commission led by the Ashanti Regional Director, Serebuor Quaicoo with the Minister for Chieftaincy Affairs, Dr. Seidu Danaa as an observer. 

In the contest for the Vice President of the House, the paramount chief of the Abeaze Traditional area in the Central region, Daasebre Kwebu Ewudzi, polled 28 votes to defeat his main contender from the Lawra traditional area, Laara Puowele Karbo who had 13 votes. 

The paramount chief of Asebu also in the Central region, Okatakyie Dr. Amenfe had eight votes to place third. 

The new President, Togbe Afede, and his Vice, Daasebre Kwebu Ewudzi, were sworn into office by the Kumasi Supervising High Court judge, Justice Nicholas Abodakpi to serve for a year renewable term.

In his victory speech, Togbe Afede thanked the members for the trust and confidence reposed in him and his vice to lead them. 

The new president's address was mainly based on 2016 elections which is just 12 days away a key issue in his inaugural speech, and minced no words about the need for a peaceful elections.

Togbui Afede called for credible elections on December 7.

"Very soon we shall be having elections. As custodians of the land we must ensure elections are done freely and fairly for peace to be prevail," he said.

He said it is only when the elections is credible, free and fair that peace  will prevail in the country.

He called on the political heads to run clean campaign and commit to a peaceful election.

"The leaders must be reminded that while they seek power, the people have a right to peace," he noted, adding, "if everybody decides to cheat there will be chaos and anarchy." 
  
The Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State implored the electorate not to allow themselves to be used by politicians for acts of violence saying that may only be in the selfish interest of the politicians.

Referring to a famous quote by Alexander Pope- "madness of many for the benefit of the few," Togbe Afede charged Ghanaian voters saying " don't risk your life for the benefit of the few."

"Your lives are more important than the ambitions of leaders," he stated.

The Electoral Commission representative who presided over the house of chiefs presidential election said the candidate to be announced as winner of the December election will most definitely be the choice of the people.

He promised to make a positive mark while restoring dignity, reverence and inspiration to the chieftaincy institution.                                                                

The Minister of Chieftaincy Affairs, Dr. Seidu Danaa, commended members of the NHCs for successfully electing their leaders.

Togbe Afede took over from Naa Professor Nabila who has completed his eight year term while his vice, Awulae Atibrukusu who also served in that capacity for the same period. 

Meanwhile, members of the national house of chiefs have also mourned with the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu, the Asanteman traditional council and Asanteman at large on the death of the Asantehemaa, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem. 

She died on the 14th of this month at the age of 111 after reigning for 39 years after succeeding Nana Serwaa Nyarko in 1977 as the 13th Asantehemaa. 

The late Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem was the biological mother of the reigning Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu.         

GBC