Accra, Oct. 6, GNA – The elders and people of the Atsiame Clan in the Volta Region say they reject the decision by the Volta Regional House of Chiefs (VRHC) pertaining to the “qualification” of Togbi Samlafo IV as the Paramount Chief of Atsiame.
In a letter to the Ghana News Agency the clan said the decision of the VRHC “could not stand”, considering that a committee set up by the National House of Chiefs had “accepted and upheld” that Togbi Samlafo IV be elevated as Paramount Chief.
Mr Samuel Davor, who signed the letter, therefore, urged the public to “disregard” the decision on the “disqualification” of Togbi Samlafo IV.
It said the process for the elevation of Togbi Samlafo IV and 12 other chiefs to paramountcy was initiated by Togbi Sri III, Awoamefia of Anlo State, in 2015, but was stalled due to misunderstanding.
“By a letter dated 28th February, 2024, the Volta Regional House of Chiefs submitted documents regarding the applications of Atsiamedukor, Viepe and Sreme for paramountcy. The said letter was written by the Registrar of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs at the direction of the President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs quoted the position of Togbi Samlafo that ‘… the National House of Chiefs has the mandate to set up a Committee to investigate and approve paramountcies.’
“We believe that it was for this reason that the National House of Chiefs set a three-member committee to investigate the matter and report to the National House of Chiefs through the Research/Standing Committee of the National House of Chiefs,” it said.
“The National House of Chiefs was, therefore, within its legal mandate when it set up the Committee to investigate the matter.
“This is exactly what the National House of Chiefs did when it accepted and upheld the recommendation of its committee that Togbi Samlafo IV be elevated as the Paramount Chief of Atsiame Traditional Area.
“We believe that the Volta Regional House of Chiefs is very much aware of the position of the Supreme Court in these matters, that is why they forwarded Togbi Samlafo IV’s Petition to the National House of Chiefs for further Action.”
Mr Davor, therefore, questioned the decision by the Volta Regional House of Chiefs to make “a determination on the very matter that had received unanimous approval of the National House of Chiefs.”
“It is our position that the purported decision of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs on the 4th of September, 2025 cannot stand as same flies in the face of the record and same should be ignored by any person who is committed to the truth and adherence due process,” the letter stated.
“As far as Atsiamedukor is concerned all matters pertaining to the qualification of Tobgi Samlafo IV’s elevation to the status of a paramount Chief of Atsiame has been put to rest by the report of the National House of Chiefs and the subsequent decision of the plenary of the National House of Chiefs.
“A careful reading of the report of the National House of Chiefs dated July, 2025 would clear all doubts,” it added.
On September 10, 2025, the Ghana News Agency reported the decision by the VHRC to disapprove the recognition of Togbi Samlafo IV as the Paramount Chief of Atseame, following the submission of his Chieftaincy Declaration Form to the general membership of the House.
This follows the coverage of the VRHC meeting at Ho, on Thursday, September 4, where a total of 33 members of the House voted against the approval. Two voted in favour of the motion while 15 abstained.
The Chieftaincy Declaration form had listed Togbi Samlafo IV as Paramount Chief of Atsiame, and sought the endorsement of the Regional House Chiefs as part of the processes to formally admit him as a member.
However, during deliberations, Togbi Dorglo Anumah VI, the Paramount Chief of the Avenor Traditional Area, raised objections to the approval.
Following a debate and discussions, the House proceeded to vote, thus rejecting the approval of the Chieftaincy Declaration (CD) form of Togbi Samlafo.
A member of the VRHC, Togbi Anumah, had explained that Atseame was one of the 13 clans within the Avenor Traditional Area, and that “there is no such thing as a clan chief in the Avenor Traditional area.”
GNA
Edited by Beatrice Asamani Savage