Former President John Dramani Mahama has heaped praises on the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, Togbe Afede XlV for his courage in speaking truth to power.
Speaking as guest of honor at this year’s Asogli yam Festival, Mr. Mahama said Togbe who is also the president of Asogli Traditional Area, speaks the truth regardless of who is involved.
According to him, Togbe who refused ex-gratia from the Akufo-Addo government for its indecency but came under attack from the government and its afficionados, exhibited commendable courage that should be emulated.
“As people in authority and leadership, we must not massage the truth. But we must be bold always and fearless in speaking the truth and I must say one traditional leader who has always spoken the truth no matter who is hurt by the truth is Togbe Afede the fourteenth”, Mr Mahama said.
“Togbe you’re a man of principle, you’re a man of conviction and we all admire you for that. And so don’t change, just continue being yourself”, the former President emphasised.
According to the former President, Togbe Afede’s decision to return a gratuity which he felt he did not deserve is applaudable and should not incur him insults.
It would be recalled that the Togbe Afede XIV, was in the news a few months ago after he rejected over ¢365,000 ex-gratia paid to him for serving on the Council of State between 2017 and 2020.
While the rest of the public praised him, members of the NPP government descended on him with insults.
The attackers included Paul Adom Otchere of Metro TV fame who among others tried to impugn hypocrisy on the character of the Togbe.
However, while addressing a gathering of chiefs and people in the Volta Region over the weekend, Mr. Maham stressed that this should not have been the case.
“When a traditional ruler and a former of the Council of State returns a gratuity that was paid to him because he thinks it was not necessary and he didn’t deserve to have that money paid to him, he should receive acknowledgements and gratitude and not insults”, Mahama stressed.
Source: Whatsupnewsghana