Togbe Afede XIV, the Agbogbomefia of Asogli, has been elected the new President of the National House of Chiefs.
He polled 25 votes to beat his three other contestants – Awulai Atibrukusu III, Paramount Chief of Lower Axim, who had 11 votes, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, Paramount Chief of Akyem Abuakwa, (10 votes) and Nana Kobina Nketsiah VI, Paramount Chief of Esikado ( three votes). A total of 49 voted were cast out of the 50 eligible voters.
The House also elected Daasebre Kwebu Ewudzi VII, Paramount Chief of the Abeadze, as its Vice President. He received 28 votes to beat off the challenge by Okatakyie Dr. Amanfi, Paramount Chief of Asebu, (8 votes) and Naa Tuowele Karbo III, Paramount Chief of Lawra, (13 votes).
Togbe Afede takes over from Wulugu Naba Pugansua Naa Professor John S. Nabila, who had served out his two four-year tenure of office.
The election was supervised by the Ashanti Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, Mr Serebour Quaicoe. The newly elected leaders of the NHC were sworn in by Justice Nicholas M. C Abodakpi, the Supervising High Court Judge in Kumasi.
Togbe Afede expressed appreciation to the House for the honour done him and his Vice. He said their victory was an expression of the collective desire for change, progress and improvement in the lives of their people. He pledged that the new leadership would prosecute an agenda that would effect significant transformation of the chieftaincy institution.
The outgoing President of the House, Naa Professor Nabila, commended members of the House for the peaceful manner in which the election was conducted and said that should be replicated in the national election. He said he was grateful to the house for the support extended to him during his tenure and appealed that the same co-operation be transferred to the new leadership.
Togbe Afede, who is a business mogul, was also the immediate past president of the Volta region House of Chiefs. It is expected that he will work to correct most of the anomalies besieging the House of Chiefs presently which has been ripping it of its original honour, including the incessant participation of chiefs in partisan politics.
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