Health Ministry's Chief Engineer installed new Dufia of Fodome

On Thursday, May 25, 2023, an exciting journey began for Dr. Nichodemus Kafui Gebe, the Ghana Health Ministry's chief biomedical engineer, when he exchanged Fodome's great oath with Togbega Gbedegbleme Akpatsa II, the Paramount Chief of Fodome, to become the newly enstooled Dufia (divisional chief) of Fodome Agbesia.

At the outdooring event, which took place in Fodome Agbesia amid rich traditional customs and rites typical of the Ewe people, the chief engineer assumed his role as Togbe Adze II to mark a new era of leadership within his division.

As a member of the Gebe royal clan of Fodome Agbesia, Dr. Gebe became the chosen successor following Togbe Adze I's passing twenty-three years ago.

In line with Fodome customs, his stool title, Togbe Adze II, designates him as a frontline divisional war chief for the Fodome people. Within modern chieftainship, Togbe Adze II is expected to combine courage with strategic maneuvering through advocacy, negotiation, partnership, and other peaceful means possible to aid Gbedegbleme maintain unity, peace, and development within his realm.

Essentially, his elevation to this esteemed title position was based on the paramount chief's resolve to find qualified occupants for all vacant stools within his domain. Specifically, it was in order to ensure the smooth operation of the recently inaugurated Fodome traditional council.

At present, Dr. Gebe oversees the Biomedical Engineering Unit (BEU) under the ministry's infrastructure directorate. In addition to managing healthcare technology deployment, he supervises pre-installation and post-installation activities for the national healthcare system.

Besides, he offers consulting services for various government and private agencies by offering cutting-edge solutions to their retooling, accreditation, regulation, and quality control efforts.

Dr. Gebe is currently an old student of Bishop Herman College at Kpando in the Volta Region. Prior to obtaining his Master of Science in Medical Engineering from Keele University in the United Kingdom, he graduated from the University of Ghana Medical School as a medic.

In his inaugural speech, Togbe Adze II pledges collaborative leadership. Moving forward, he emphasized community health promotion as a pathway to development. Moreover, he affirmed his commitment to leveraging his expertise to stimulate good wellbeing for all, particularly mothers.

"Over the years, our women have undergone childbirths in the dark whenever the light went off at our community clinic. However, three days ago, for the first time, there was light at our clinic during the blackout we all experienced because solar power system is now up and running. This became possible through support by some citizens in aid of Togbega’s operation of zero tolerance to delivery in darkness in Fodome," Togbe Adze II noted.

He expressed his deep appreciation to the paramount chief and elders for their support and appealed to all to remember him in prayers to God for wisdom and knowledge to rule.

In his keynote speech, Togbega, on behalf of the Fodome traditional council, thanked the Gebe family and the entire Agbesia for availing their capable son to lead and to support Fodome’s agenda towards unity and development.

"Fodome has been in existence for four hundred years as a community. Our forebears did not reach the educational heights we do now. Today, we are lucky to choose PhD holders to lead," the paramount chief stressed.

Again, he stressed unity among his people. He believes that without unity, no development assistance can come to the community since the government is already overburdened.

"Governments nowadays are struggling. It is the chiefs who now lobby. And so far, Fodome must be proud. We have a university sited on our land; a TVET project is also being considered for us; and the IGP has also proposed to build a police training school in the area as a support to the Regional Police Command in Hohoe," Togbega told his audience.

He admonished the division chiefs to leave their pasts behind and forge forward. He called on citizens in the community and diaspora to take a kins interest in all ongoing activities in the area.

A wide array of dignitaries, including chiefs, queen mothers, Catholic priests, political figures, paramedics, the police, army officers, Ministry of Health staff, and old students, attended the ceremony.

Komla Lokoe
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