The President of the National House of Chiefs of Togo and Paramount Chief of Notsie, Togbe Agorkoli IV, on Tuesday, February 14, 2017 paid a “historic” visit to the seat of government, the first time a Chief from Togo has paid a courtesy call on the President of the Republic.
Togbe Agorkoli IV, who was accompanied by the President of Ghana’s House of Chiefs, Togbe Afede XIV, and 9 other Paramount Chiefs from Togo and the Volta Region, noted that his visit to President Akufo-Addo was to extend fraternal greetings from the people of Notsie, the ancestral home of Ewes, and the people of Togo, to Ghanaians.
He noted that the decision by President Akufo-Addo to accept his request for a meeting is indicative of the respect Ghana’s President has for the institution of Chieftaincy.
As Chiefs, Togbe Agorkoli indicated that their responsibility is to adhere to the vision of their respective Heads of State, and, thus, admonished all Ghanaian traditional rulers to extend their full support and co-operation to the government of President Akufo-Addo so development, progress and prosperity can be extended to all parts of the country.
Togbe Agorkoli IV also used the opportunity of his visit to invite the President to the well-known September 9, 2017 festival of the people of Notsie.
Togbe Afede XIV, the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, who also addressed the meeting, indicated that one of the reasons for the courtesy call on President Akufo-Addo by Togbe Agorkoli is because “he was inspired by your pledge and commitment to the Ghanaian people to be a ‘Father for all’.”
He added that the boldness of vision already espoused by President Akufo-Addo is one which will ensure that all ethnic and religious groupings are united with the common goal of developing the country.
President Akufo-Addo, taking his turn to address the delegation, thanked Togbe Agorkoli for the courtesy of his visit, and reciprocated the goodwill messages extended to him by the King of Notsie.
President Akufo-Addo assured that a solid relationship between Ghana and Togo is one he will seek to advance over the course of his tenure of office, revealing that in the just ended 28th AU Summit in Addis Ababa, he, together with His Excellency President Faure Gnassingbe of Togo, agreed to meet on a regular basis to discuss issues pertaining to the advancement of the two countries.
The President further stressed that the relations existing between political and traditional rulers are essential for the well-being of the citizenry, and indicated that his government will do all within its power to ensure relations between these “vital bodies” remain cordial for the forward movement of the country.
He also assured that “unless something dramatic happens, I, together with Togbe Afede and the Chiefs from the Volta Region, am going to be in Notsie for the celebration of the festival on September 9.”
