Traditional Leaders Needs Commitment – Togbe Afede
THE CHIEFS and people of Asogli State in the Ho Municipality launched the 10 th anniversary celebrations of the enthronement of Agbogbomefia, Togbe Afede XIV and their 2013 Annual Yam Festival at the Accra International Conference Centre.
The event, which attracted high government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, the business community, as well as friends and business partners of Togbe Afede, was under the theme: 'Traditional Leadership and Development Redefined.'
Addressing the gathering, Togbe Afede noted that traditional leadership must be taken to a new level through commitment to the development aspirations of the people as well as constant dialogue and collaboration with other stakeholders in the development process.
He said in order to lay the foundation, effectively mobilize and inform the people and investment partners, the Asogli state had developed a web-site and put together two publications namely, 'Ho Tourists and Business Guide 2009' and ' The Volta Region: A Guide to Tourists and Investors.'
Major development projects initiated by Togbe Afede during his 10-year rule include Sunon Asogli Power Plant, which currently supplies 14 percent of electricity distributed by the Electricity Company of Ghana, and Africa World Airlines, an intervention to make Accra the hub of aviation activity in West Africa.
He was grateful to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) for their support in realizing the dream of a World Trade Centre in Accra, a mission to expand international trade flows and investment.
Other initiatives are development of the Volta Region Economic Plan, being implemented by the Volta Region Development Agency as well as the establishment of a promising friendship between the Volta Region and the Ningxia Autonomous Province of China.
He announced the commitment of Shenzhen Energy Group to add 360 MW to the Sunon Asogli Power Plant before the end of the year, while pursuing plans for a 600-700 MW coal-fired power plant, a total investment of more than US$1billion.
'The company is also interested in wind and solar energy in support of government's objective of 10 percent renewable energy capacity,' he added.
In the agricultural sector, Togbe said they are currently in the second year of efforts to establish an integrated livestock and crops development project on over 30,000 hectares of land with an initial investment of US$120 million.
Togbe also expressed his resolve to continue with 'The Gold Coast City Project', a US$1.5billion initiative to develop the beachfront of Accra.
Giving out useful lessons in international trade networking, he stated, 'I intend to take full advantage of my collaboration with the likes of HNA Group, China Africa Business Council, China Africa Development Fund, Ningxia Autonomous Province, The World Trade Centre Association, The Havard Centre for International Development and the African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP) to bring development to the country.'
The Chief of Staff, Prosper Bani, who was the Guest of Honour, highly commended Togbe Afede XIV, the chiefs and people of Asogli state for their modern approach to the chieftaincy institution and contribution to national development.
The function was chaired by the Agonahene, Nana Frempong Anokye Ababio.