By Ewoenam Kpodo
Ho, Oct. 05, GNA – Togbe Afede XIV, the Agbogbomefia of Asogli State, has rallied Ghanaians to support anti-corruption initiatives, describing corruption as the biggest stumbling block to national development.
Speaking at the grand durbar of the 2026 Asogli Te Za (Yam Festival) at the Jubilee Park in Ho, Togbe Afede said the consequences of corruption were painfully felt by all Ghanaians.
He recalled how economic desperation drove some Ghanaians to prefer xenophobic isolation in South Africa to stifling conditions back home, and how many lost life savings through the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP).
Togbe Afede said corruption was pervasive, citing what he described as the most disgraceful – top government officials taking State scholarships meant for the needy to study abroad, with some even securing scholarships for their spouses and children.
“Worse still, to find some recipients also having along with them their spouses and children as beneficiaries of scholarship funds, yet we saw people defend some of these ugly acts of corruption,” he noted.
The Agbogbomefia stressed that honesty and respect for truth were critical to winning the fight against corruption and declared support for anti-graft efforts by the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) initiative.
Togbe Afede said the Attorney-General, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), and all other agencies mandated to monitor, investigate and prosecute economic crimes and recover proceeds of these crimes needed the support of all Ghanaians.
He commended government for its national development agenda, mentioning the “the Big Push” and thanked the President for his pursuit of reparation justice over colonialism, slavery, describing him as “truly an African leader.”
Togbe also announced plans to strengthen and transform the Asogli traditional administration, intended to promote development with chiefs at the forefront.
Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts deemed the theme for this year’s celebration, “United in Purpose, Investing in People and Infrastructure for Sustainable National Development,” as transformative, saying it spoke directly “to what Ghana is championing under President Mahama.”
She said through folklore, yam was being understood to require collective effort to cultivate, harvest and celebrate, adding that it was same manner community and national development could not be achieved in isolation, but in unity of purpose.
Madam Gomashie who is also the Member of Parliament of Ketu South thanked Mr Julius Debrah, the Chief of Staff for the seeming unity between government and the people of the Volta Region, praying, “We can only build upon what we have.”
“I am of the firm belief that when we unite in purpose, we can take advantage of the structural frameworks, policies and investments of government that tie all these efforts together.
She urged the youth of Asogli to be united, protect the peace of the region jealously, take pride in their identity and leverage the infrastructure and investments being to build the sustainable Ghana for tomorrow.”
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Bertha Badu-Agyei/ Christabel Addo
Reporter: Ewoenam Kpodo, GNA
Email: [email protected]