The Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, Togbe Afede XIV, has called on the government to fulfill its promise to retrieve all public funds lost to corruption under previous administrations.
He praised the government’s Operation Recover All Loots (ORAL) initiative, urging authorities to ensure it yields real results rather than remaining a mere slogan.
Togbe Afede made these remarks at the grand durbar of the 2025 Asogli Te Za (Yam Festival), held under the theme “Together in Unity and Prosperity, We Build a Just, Peaceful, Prosperous Nation.” The event drew distinguished guests, including Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, traditional rulers, and top government officials.
Togbe Afede Calls for Action, Not Words, in Fighting Corruption
“Recently, we seem to have succeeded in making the beautiful name Ghana almost synonymous with the word corruption,” Togbe Afede lamented. “That is why I like ORAL — Operation Recover All Loots. I commend the government for the initiative and urge it to stay the course to recover all that has been looted from the state coffers.”
He emphasized that corruption continues to undermine Ghana’s growth and tarnish its image globally. According to him, corruption remains the biggest obstacle to national development, eroding public trust and worsening socio-economic challenges such as unemployment, crime, and emigration.
Strengthening Institutions to Make Corruption Unattractive
Togbe Afede called for a comprehensive reform of Ghana’s governance systems, including the judiciary, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), and the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP). He stressed the importance of making corruption “unattractive” by enforcing stiffer punishments for offenders and strengthening institutional capacity to detect and prosecute financial crimes.
“We have to ensure that our institutions mandated to fight corruption work effectively,” he said. “We must strengthen our constitution and these key institutions so that honesty and integrity guide both public and private service.”
He further urged Ghanaians to adopt a change in attitude and values, promoting accountability and transparency at all levels of society.
Marking 22 Years on the Asogli Stool
This year’s festival also marked 22 years of Togbe Afede’s reign as Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State. He expressed gratitude for the support he has received throughout his leadership and reaffirmed his commitment to promoting development within the region.
Highlighting recent progress, Togbe Afede commended the government for the commencement of major road construction works under the Big Push Project, connecting Asikuma through Ho to Aflao. He noted that the project would enhance trade, transportation, and regional integration.
“The President came along and surprised us with the Big Push, an agenda that has gladdened the hearts of the people of the Volta Region because of its focus on road infrastructure,” he said.
He also revealed plans by the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) to launch a national residential housing drive in Ho, aimed at addressing housing challenges and improving living standards in the Volta Region.
