The Standing Committee of the Aflao Traditional Council has described as false, baseless and unfounded, allegations of tyranny and authocratic governance against the Paramount Chief and President of the Council, Torgbiga Amenya Fiti V, by a group calling itself, the Concern Citizens of Aflao.
The council has therefore urged all indigenes and well-wishers of the area, as well as the general public to disregard any such allegations circulating on social media and other media platforms.
The Concern Citizens group, had earlier in some media reports, claimed, it found out after painstaking investigations that the system of governance run by the Aflao Paramount Chief, was characterized with tyranny and heavy handedness leading to agitations by one division of the traditional area (the chiefs and people of Viepe) to break away, further creating heavy divisions within the Traditional Area.
A communique issued by the Council and copied to the Volta Regional House of Chiefs and other relevant institutions on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, stated in part: “We, the members of the Aflao Traditional Council, have noted your recent publications challenging various matters and allegations made against Torgbi Amenya Fiti V, by some aggrieved Chiefs within the Aflao Traditional Area.
While we appreciate diverse perspectives, we find it necessary to seek clarification on certain aspects.
One cannot help but wonder about your group’s whereabouts and actions when the only government Senior High School in Aflao faced challenges in which our Paramount Chief was “insulted” by the President of the Republic and also during the period when the Aflao Traditional Area was under military siege, four years ago during the general registration –
These were critical times that demanded collective efforts for the well-being of our community.”
The communique questioned the role of of the so called group in the development agenda of the Traditional Area.
“We seek clarity on the substantial contributions your group has made to the social and economic development of Aflao.
Development encompasses a broad spectrum of issues beyond chieftaincy matters. As custodians of tradition and guardians of Aflao’s heritage, the
Traditional Council is dedicated to advancing progress across all facets of our community.
A specific reminder is extended to Prof Ernest Dumor, the Chairman of the Concern Citizens group, regarding the honoring durbar held for him and his children, Mawuena and the late Komla Dumor, in Aflao some years back. We also highlight the significant contribution of the Aflao Traditional Council towards the burial of his late wife and son Komla.
The communique emphasized that the same Torgbi Fiti V, that the Concern Citizens are referring to as a tyrant, is still making everything possible for the road named after the late Komla Dumor in Aflao which is badly unmotorable to be constructed to link the village of Mr. Daniel Dzotsiasi a member of the Concern Citizens group.
It noted further that the Paramount Chief’s singular sponsorship of electricity to theAgblekpui Village of the
Concern Citizens’ Daniel Dzotsiasi stands as a testament of his dedication to the well-being of all citizens.
“It’s disheartening to witness what seems to be a betrayal of Torgbi Amenya Fiti V, the Paramount Chief of Aflao, who has consistently supported and contributed to the development and protection of his people and community.
Particularly puzzling is the involvement of Prof. Ernest Dumor, who now associates with those who label him as an autocratic person. This is in contrast to his previous stance when he refused their suggestion for late Komla Dumor to be buried in Accra,” the communique stated.
It continued: “The Standing Committee of the Aflao Traditional Council therefore vehemently rejects the baseless allegations made by the Concern Citizens group, asserting that the Paramount Chief’s leadership is not tyrannical, and there is no evidence of land grabbing or whatsoever against our illustrious Paramount Chief.
We also wish to highlight the documents provided by the Paramount Chief to the group, which backs Aflao’s history as a unified settlement,” the communique indicated.
The Traditional Council expressed concern over the Concern Citizen group’s failure to acknowledge the positive aspects of the provided documents and criticized their agenda to tarnish the Paramount Chief’s reputation.
It emphasized the group’s inadequate research and partiality and hoped that it’s concerns extend beyond chieftaincy issues.
The council further advised the Concern Citizens group to “engage in endeavors that uplift the socio-economic well-being of our beloved Aflao, as constructive collaboration is essential for the prosperity of our community.”
“We welcome an open dialogue to better understand your group’s objectives and to explore ways we can collectively contribute to the holistic development of Aflao,” the communique concluded.
Read full communique below:
By Leo Nelson || Ghananewsonline.com.gh