Stop using my name to legitimize Agyapa deal – Togbe Afede
The President of the National House of Chiefs, Togbe Afede XIV, has called on the public to disregard publications using his name in an attempt to legitimize the Agyapa deal.
Some publications last Tuesday suggested that the National House of Chiefs led by Togbe Afede had sought to condemn former President John Dramani Mahama for endorsing a statement by the Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central, Isaac Adongo on the Agyapa Royalties deal that some said was ethnocentric.
Former President Mahama had shared the Facebook post by Mr Isaac Adongo on Monday, August 31, 2020.
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Below is a copy of the post
Togbe Afede's reaction
Read also: Agyapa deal: Why should a national transaction be shrouded in secrecy – Togbe Afede
Following this, some publications suggested that the National House of Chiefs and its President, Togbe Afede XIV had commented on the issue in a press statement.
Addressing the Volta Regional House of Chiefs on Wednesday, September 2, 2020, Togbe Afede said he has not commented on the deal and urged the public to disregard publications associating his name with the deal and the subsequent comments.
Togbe Afede who is the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, said the publication which made rounds on Tuesday was extremely mischievous, untrue and must be disregarded.
"I, in particular, I'm very much hurt by the attempt to use my name to grant legitimacy to a transaction that has been very widely condemned for its secrecy and for the fact that the company involved, Agyapa was incorporated in a tax haven."
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"I do not see why desperation will lead anybody who is associated with that transaction to want to use the name of innocent Togbe Afede XIV. I have never commented on this transaction and I decided not to comment for good reason, that show disapproval of this transaction.
"Tax havens typically serve two purposes, helping you to avoid tax or ensure secrecy, I don't see why a national transaction should be shrouded in secrecy in the first place."
Togbe Afede subsequently condemned the publications.
He said there were three publications in total - two of which were in the name of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs and the third one in the name of the National House of Chiefs.
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In the first publication, he said the Volta Regional House of Chiefs was alleged to have blasted the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and alleged that the House had said that it was tired of the NDC.
The second one, he said was labelled “Announcement to all Voltarians,” which was supposedly from Volta Regional House of Chiefs to the effect that, since 1992 the Volta Region has supported the NDC because of former President Jerry John Rawlings and had not received anything from the support.
“I have issued a press statement in the name of the Asogli State to disassociate myself from those publications because some of them came with my picture so we have written to deny that any such statement was issued by Chiefs of the Volta region,” he added.
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On the Agyapa royalties controversy, Togbe Afede noted that neither the House of Chiefs nor himself has made any comments on it.
Writer's email: enoch.frimpong@graphic.com.gh