Volta Region: House of Chiefs declares enstoolment of Togbe Kodi Adiko VI” null and void

The Judicial Committee of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs has nullified the enstoolment of “Togbe Kodi Adiko VI”, known in private life as Roland Kofi Adiko, as the Paramount Chief (Fiaga) of the Tanyigbe Traditional Area.

The three-member committee, chaired by the Paramount Chief of Woe, Togbui Gbordzo, held that the enstoolment of Togbe Etoe Kodzo II as Fiaga of Tanyigbe was legitimate and valid.

Following the death of Togbe Kwasi Adiko V, Togbe Etoe Kodzo II was enstooled as Paramount Chief. However, the Adiko family subsequently installed a rival chief, resulting in a longstanding chieftaincy dispute.

The two traditional gates — the Akoto family on the Doku Dzehe stool of the Anyidoto clan and the Adiko family on the Kodi Ayefior stool of the Kodivi clan — have, for decades, rotated the paramountcy. 

However, after Togbe Kwasi Adiko V retired to his village, both families went ahead with separate enstoolments, prompting the Akoto family to seek redress at the Volta Regional House of Chiefs.

In their petition, the Akotos argued that the nomination, selection, confinement, and enstoolment of Roland Kofi Adiko as Fiaga was unconstitutional, as it was their rightful turn to ascend the stool. 

They called for the declaration of Togbe Etoe Kodzo II as the properly enstooled Paramount Chief of Tanyigbe and sought general damages for the breach of traditional procedure.

Delivering its judgment on Friday, March 21, the committee stated that there was ample evidence to show that the paramountcy of Tanyigbe Traditional Area was not the sole preserve of the Adikos of the Kodivi clan, but rather alternated between the Anyidoto and Kodivi clans.

The committee said it relied on “evidence from numerous sources across history, traditional facts, witnesses, government official records and other exhibits” to reach its decision.

In its findings, the committee stated: “From the foregoing and in consideration of the evidence of the legal authorities of the superior courts, we find and hold that: In living memory and recent history of the people, supported by incontrovertible and unassailable documentary proof, point to the fact that the Akotos of the Anyidoto clan were not only chiefs, but also Paramount Chiefs and that the late Togbe Kwasi Adiko V succeeded Togbe Kwami Ekpe Akoto III.”

The committee further declared: “This judicial committee also finds that the Tanyigbe paramountcy’s rotation, as supported by the petitioner, follows therefore from the above that the Paramountcy is not the sole preserve of the Adikos of the Kodivi clan as contained in respondents’ Exhibit 1, which has been presented to the committee.”

It added: “This judicial committee also finds and notes accordingly that in view of the findings above, it was the Anyidoto clan which ought to have presented a candidate for the Paramountcy after the death of the late Togbe Adiko V.”

Based on these findings, the committee declared the enstoolment of “Togbe Kodi Adiko VI” null and void, and set aside both his nomination and enstoolment as Paramount Chief.

The committee further recognised Togbe Etoe Kodzo II of the Anyidoto clan as the appropriate candidate duly nominated and enstooled as Fiaga of Tanyigbe.

The other members of the committee were the Paramount Chief of Botoku, Togbe Sei II, and the Paramount Chief of Afife, Torgbui Adrakpanya VI.

Copies of the 45-page judgment were made available to the media on Wednesday, 9 April, 2025.