Next NDC Government will Modernize Aflao – John Mahama

Former president John Dramani Mahama, has assured the chiefs and people of the Aflao traditional area of massive development when his party is voted into office in the next general elections scheduled for December 2024.

According to the former president, the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC) government was not unaware of the developmental shortfalls of the traditional area and for that matter the Ketu South Municipality.

He said his government was working to address these shortfalls before the NDC exited power in 2017.

The former president said this when he addressed the grand durbar of chiefs and people of the Aflao traditional area on Saturday November 26, as part of activities which climaxed this year’s Godigbe Festival.

The festival which returned two years after it was put on hold following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, coincided with the 25th anniversary of the coronation of the paramount chief of the Aflao traditional area, Torgbiga Amenya Fiti V.

Former president Mahama said the strategic location of Aflao as the most prominent border town in Ghana required that something be done to give it a facelift and a better outlook.

“I had talks with our prominent paramount chief, Torgbiga Amenya Fiti V, when I was in office – infact we had agreed that due to the strategic location of Aflao as the most prominent border town in the country, there should be a modern market on the Aflao side just as with our counterparts on other side in Lome – and a world class hospital befitting the area,” the former President stated.

Former president Mahama decried the deplorable state of the Aflao town roads, especially the Aflao – Diamond cement road, and the Kormla Dumor road which leads to the palace of the paramount chief. He was particular about the Ho -Aflao road which he says needs urgent attention from the current government.

Mahama emphasized the importance of the Chieftaincy institution, saying, it was a repository of our traditions and customs and an important institution that played a pivotal role in advocacy and development in our country.

He also commended Torgbiga Amenya Fiti V for his election to the high office of president of the Forum of Kings and Traditional Rulers of Africa and urged him to use that high recognition to do more for his people and the country as a whole.

Minister for Interior, Ambrose Dery, who represented President Nana Akufo-Addo, said the government is committed to improving the well-being of every Ghanaian.

He said although the country had some setbacks in its bid to accelerate development and better the lot of the masses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic coupled with the Russia-Ukraine war which brought in it’s wake untold hardships across the globe, government is still hopeful that things will turn around with it’s sound economic policies and programmes, assuring Ghanaians of better days ahead.

Torgbiga Amenya Fiti V under whose auspices the festival was held called on government to enact pro-poor programs to improve the living conditions of the People. He said most indigenes of Aflao are living in abysmal economic conditions due to the fact that there are no job opportunities available in the area with most youth having to engage in smuggling and other unorthodox activities just to earn a living.

He thanked all his divisional and sub- chiefs as well as all indegenes of Aflao for their loyalty to him over the years and called for fellow – feeling and togetherness even “as we work together towards the forward match of our dear traditional area.”

He also expressed his appreciation to all corporate organisations and well-meaning individuals who supported the festival wishing them God’s guidance and favor.

The festival was celebrated on the theme: “25 years of inspirational leadership and the restoration of the rights and privileges of the Aflawuawo”.

By Leo Nelson