Two Prominent Chiefs in the Volta Region Torgbui Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia of the Asorgli State and Nana Soglo Alo, IV 50, paramount chief of Likpe Traditional Area have been elected President and vice President respectively of the Volta Region House of chiefs.

They both polled 19 votes each as against 10 each for their two contenders, the Krachie Wura Nana Mpra Besemuna III and Torgbui Delume VII, the paramount chief of the Ve Traditional area and the former vice president of the house to win the election.

A total of twenty-nine votes were cast including two proxy votes.
The election supervised by the Deputy Regional electoral commissioner also elected five members to represent the region at the National House of Chiefs.

The following were elected to represent the region at the National House of Chiefs; Torgbui Afede XIV, Nana Soglo Alo, IV Torgbui Delume VII, Nana Mpra Besemuna III and Torgbuiga Adai Kwesi XII.

In a short valedictory speech to the house the out-going President Torgbuiga Gabusu VI regretted that justice can not be served to many of his colleagues who have brought chieftaincy cases before his Judicial Committee because of lack of a counsel for the house for almost nine years.

He however said the house has been able to secure a counsel for the house.  He urged the in-coming administration to utilise the expertise of the counsel in other to restore peace and tranquility in troubled communities and towns in the region.

Torgbuiga informed the house that through the efforts and co-operation of his colleagues many of the conflicts in the region which could have resulted into violent clashes have been brought under control.

He said the issue of non-permanent members of the House is very dear to his heart because the issue is an injustice to his colleagues and was however hopful, saying, with the passage of the chieftaincy bill into law, they “barrier has been broken” and the issue will now be directly persuaded with the National House of Chiefs and not Parliament.

He called on the members to give their full support to the new administration to continue to struggle from where they left off so that all their colleagues could also enjoy equal rights.

The out-going President thanked the President   Agyekum Kufuor for the assistance and co-operation he enjoyed his government in his capacity as the president of the house thanking the Minister for chieftancy and culture and the Volta Region Minister Ho. Kofi Dzmesi, the media and all stakeholders including his colleague members for the co-operation and cordial working relationship that existed among them during his tenure of office.

In a contribution to some discussions in the House,Torgbui Avaxi Degenu the III the Paramount chief of the Agave Traditional Area asked the government to “work peace and not to talk peace”.  He said paying lip service to the   issue of peace will not automatically bring peace to the troubled areas but must be backed by actions,

Talking apparently about the issue of paramount he noted that there, were over 103 paramount which are not recognised in the region.  Citing his traditional area, he said there are thirteen traditional areas without a single traditional counsel which is making it difficult for the chiefs in the area to settle issues among themselves and always have to send their cases or problems directly to the National House of Chiefs. 

This he noted was not promoting peace in the area.  He urged the authorities to expedite action on the implementation of chieftaincy Act759 so a s to bring sanity , peace and development into the chieftancy institution and the communities in the country as a whole

Torgbui Afede XIV in his maiden speech to the House thanked his colleague for the support and confidence imposed in him to serve the House, the region and the nation as a whole.

He said he is aware of the myriad of problems confronting the House as well as the cheiftancy disputes in some of the communities and towns in the region.

Torgbi Afede However hoped that with the support and co-operation from the entire house they will tackle the problems and in unity and peace they will overcome the problems to bring total peace and development into the cheiftancy institution in the region.

He asked his colleagues to make sure that the peace prevailing in the country now-endures even after the election regardless of the outcome of the election by educating their subjects to chose peace  over any other considerations.

Torgbui Afede and his vice President Nana Soglo Alo the IV were sworn into office by the supervising high court Judge of Ho Justice John K. Owusu Gyemfi.

They took the oath of President of the House and the oath of secrecy.

Source :  EMMIL DELANYO.

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