Togbe Afede loses presidency of National House of Chief

President of the National House of Chiefs, Togbe Afede XIV, has been defeated in his re-election bid.

The Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State in the Volta Region polled 25 votes against 47 garnered by Ogyeahohuo Yaw Gyebi II, Paramount Chief of the Sewfi Anhwiaso Traditional Area.

Photo:Ogyeahohuo Yaw Gyebi II, Paramount Chief of the Sewfi Anhwiaso Traditional Area

Theghanareport.com sources explained, some seven chiefs were unable to cast their ballot because of legal issues.

But with the emphatic nature of the loss, their votes would not have made any difference.

The man who criticised Togbe Afede set to take over from him

Togbe Afede XIV had been at loggerheads with Ogyeahohuo Yaw Gyebi II who was the Chairman of the Governance and Development Committee of the National House of Chiefs.

The two locked horns over the process for the creation of new regions in 2018.

Togbe Afede XIV had issued a statement on behalf of the National House of Chiefs on the planned referendum for the creation of new regions. But Ogyeahohuo Yaw Gyebi II said the statement was not representative of the National House of Chiefs.

“This matter should have been referred to the Governance Committee of which I am the Chairman but it hasn’t been referred to me”, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II intimated in an interview with Accra-based Citi FM.

“If it came to the Governing Council, it would have been discussed at the Planning Committee, but this hasn’t happened, so, I don’t know who and who came out with this statement on behalf of all the paramount chiefs in the country, especially when two major political parties have taken a different stance”.

“If we are not careful, we will involve ourselves directly in party politics. So far as I am concerned, this is statement coming from two individuals, not the house”.

But Togbe Afede replied;

“Any suggestions that the proposed referendum to allow partisan politics in local elections was not discussed by the House is not only dishonest but wanton mischief.”

Ogyeahohuo Yaw Gyebi II was removed from his post after the disagreement.

 

Togbe Afede, one-term president

Togbe Afede was elected in 2016, beating three other contenders. But his quest to renew his mandate after a four-year term has become unsuccessful.

His 25 votes in defeat are the same number of votes he obtained in his 2016 victory.

The elections was held in Kumasi in the Ashanti region. Days before the vote, Togbe Afede XIV expressed hope that he would be retained because his record in office “speaks for itself.”

“We’ve modernized our meeting place, one of the best in the country. We’ve started digitizing our records, We are codifying customary laws, lines of succession,” Togbe Afede said on Accra-based Citi TV.

“Currently we have started the process to bring all African traditional leaders together in what can become an African traditional leaders union parallel to the AU because we think that the chiefs have a stronger capacity to bring their people together to promote love among Africans than the politicians,” he said.

 

Togbe Afede vs NPP government

Togbe Afede and the NPP government has been frosty, analysts say. The Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State criticised the process for the creation of new regions in 2018.

He said instead of residents in the proposed demarcation voting, the whole region to be re-demarcated should be allowed to vote.

“All my arguments had to do with who was entitled to vote. Is it just those we are targeting for the new region or the whole region? The constitution says that when you alter a boundary of a region, there must be a vote so when you look at it critically, everybody [must be allowed to vote],” he said.

In recent times, he criticised the Agyapa deal which was to leverage gold royalties to fun development. He said the $1bn transaction was opaque, a view held by several civil society organisations.

“Tax havens typically serve two purposes, helping you to avoid tax or ensure secrecy.

“I don’t see why a national transaction should be shrouded in secrecy in the first place.”

He also criticised the decision to register the Agyapa Royalties Limited in a tax haven in New Jersey.

Who is the new president of the National House of Chiefs?

Ogyeahohuo Yaw Gyebi II, a professional accountant, was elected the Western Regional House of Chiefs in 2016, joining the same year that Togbe Afede won the presidency of the National House of Chiefs.

In 2017 after the Akufo-Addo government was formed, the president appointed Ogyeahohuo Yaw Gyebi II as a board member of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation.

Photo:Nana Ogyeahohoo Yaw Gyebi II welcoming Nana Akufo-Addo to his palace during a recent visit

Known privately as Francis Kwame Agyei, the 70-year old traditional ruler was enstooled Omanhene of the Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Area on August 8, 1988.

He was 38years at his enstoolment and has reigned for the past 32 years. He is the 27th occupant of the Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional council stool.