Voltarians angry  at Akufo-Addo over comment against Aflao People

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was verbally attacked by the scores of the citizens of the Volta Region following his current statement he made to effect that the Paramount Chief Aflao Traditional Area, Torgbui Adzonugaga Amenya Fiti to go ahead and complete the Aflao E-block if he feels it has taken too long to be completed.

The agrieved citizens of the region were not happy about the statement made by the sitting President, saying that the statement is not only an insult to the people of Aflao Traditional Area but to all the people in the Volta Region.

Speaking during a courtesy call on him by Minority MPs on the Education Committee of Parliament on Wednesday, 20 October 2021, after the opposition lawmakers’ nationwide tour of some of the abandoned projects, Togbui Fiti said: “Aflao is the only urban community in Ghana without a senior high school but day-in-day-out, my friends in the media only carry bad stories about Aflao.”

“They’ll not come and comb the area and see why these people are always thieves, smugglers and why we are always going to Togo. These are researches the media and government have to do.”

“After the BECE, our children now begin to struggle for space in schools elsewhere and, so, this thick population, in most cases, has no place to go”, he bemoaned.

“I had to push former President Mahama to bring that project [E-block] here. I had to be running from here to Accra, begging; should we beg for education? If we have to beg for education before our people have to go to school, then I don’t know what democracy means but now, look at the structure standing over there, 90% complete. Now in the era of the NPP, we have the Free SHS but my people are not benefiting because the school is not here”, he noted.

“Your [lawmakers] coming here is redemption to the suffering people of Aflao. Carry this message to the Minister of Education that come February, I want this school to be opened.”

Responding to the chief during an interview on Accra-based Peace FM on Thursday, 21 October 2021, however, President Nana Akufo-Addo wondered if it was in the place of the chief to issue such an ultimatum and then suggested that he complete the project himself.

Mr Akufo-Addo also told Kokrokoo host Kwame Sefa Kayi that: “One of the things, I suspect, is a deficit on our part is our ability to counter propaganda. The propaganda takes over the reality of so many aspects of our national life. It’s a pity but we’ll continue.”

However, the statement didn't got down with the citizens of Aflao and the region at large.

The well wishing Volta citizen to join the condemnation wagons is the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa who called ,  on President Akufo-Addo to apologise to Torgbui Adzongaga Amenya Fiti V and the people of Aflao.

“Our revered chiefs and custodians of our proud traditions deserve utmost respect at all times regardless of which part of the country they exercise their authority.

“The venerable Torgbui Adzongaga Amenya Fiti V and the people of Aflao deserve an immediate retraction and apology from President Akufo-Addo.

“No chief anywhere in Ghana should be spoken to with such derision, disrespect and condescension,” the MP wrote.

According to the MP, the paramount chief, instead of the harsh condemnation, deserves to be commended as he sees the current government to be harbouring a trait for abandoning inherited projects.

“Torgbui Fiti V rather deserves commendation for his courage in speaking out against the reckless wasteful culture of abandoning inherited projects.

“We are one people united in our collective successes and challenges; intemperate language from the president who ordinarily should be strengthening national cohesion with his pronouncements, ought to be condemned by all well-meaning Ghanaians,” Mr Ablakwa said.

 Freeman Koryekpor Awlesu Greater