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The Leadership of Fodzoku Traditional Council in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region, has called on President Akufo-Addo to complete the construction of houses lost to the Kpong Hydro-electricity dam some decades past.
The community, now with over 5,000 people, has been resettled near Juapong. Their stay in the current location was to pave way for the construction of the Kpong Hydro-electric dam.
The then paramount chief of the Fodzoku traditional area, Togbega Afum Asare III, gave out 34,000 acres of their land for the construction of the power project, but the land was inhabited by the members of the community, hence the need for them to vacate the place to enable the Volta River Authority (VRA) undertake the project.
The agreement between the state and the people of the community was that the former would compensate the members whose properties were demolished for the project.
The state, through VRA, committed to building housing facilities as compensation for the people despite their relocation to the current dwelling place.
However, according to the leadership of the traditional council, after over 40 years of their resettlement, some affected people are yet to be indemnified.
Due to the failure of the VRA and related actors to completely meet the accommodation needs of the people, many have since the period been perching with other community members whilst other affected persons have rebuilt their houses out of their own coffers.
“We think that this is a major area that needs the government’s immediate intervention,” Dr. Joshua Tsatro-Mordy, Spokesperson for the chiefs told President Akufo-Addo.
The traditional council made the earnest request when they paid a courtesy call on the President at the Jubilee House on Tuesday, February 8, 2022.
They also requested that the government further partitions the North Tongu District because of its size.
“The district is relatively large and it will be necessary for the government to consider its further partitioning with a capital at Juapong to bring governance close to the people living within and around the enclave,” Dr. Tsatror-Mordy said.
The President, on his part, lauded the efforts of the late chief in releasing the land for the construction of the plant.
According to him, the gesture of the late Togbega Afum Asare III was one important milestone in the country’s history that calls for the celebration of his life and commemoration of his passing.
The visit to the President’s office, however, was part of a series of engagements the leadership of the Fodzoku traditional Council has been holding with some state actors ahead of the observation of the final funeral and burial rites of their Paramount Chief, Togbega Afum Asare III.
The delegation who met with the President includes Togbe Misrobi III, Mankralo, Fodzoku; Zikpui Amewugh Vugbagba (Stool father); Avafia Kodjo Mensah III ( Divisional Chief of Torgodzi); Mamagah Yakagbe III (Paramount Queen Mother of Fodzoku Traditional Area); Mama Nyalewosi III (Queen Mother of Avornui).
The others were: Mr. Savior Kudjo Nyadudzi; Mr. Memayor Asiwome (Secretary to the Traditional Leadership); Dr. Trastro Joshua ( Spokesperson of the delegations); Mr. Ernest Asare (Son of the late Togbega Afum Asare III); Togbega Afum Asare III who was installed the Chief of the Fodzoku traditional area in 1945. He was enstooled at the age of 21.
Togbega Afum Asare III
The Chief passed on January 1, 2019, at VRA Hospital in Akosombo after a short illness.
Having led the community for 74 years he is believed to be among the longest-serving rulers the country has ever had.
He died at the age of 95.
