Fiator Mordeku III of Tsito, known in private life as Kafui Kwame Amegbe, is a unique blend of tradition, service, and modern profes­sionalism.

As a chief, an architect, and a community development advocate, he wears his many hats with humility, driven by a powerful dual motivation: a deep desire to serve and preserve his family’s legacy, and to play an active role in creating positive change in society.

From a young age, Kafui’s life has been guided by strong values rooted in communal living.

Growing up in a close-knit family and community, he experienced first­hand the power of shared responsibil­ity-where neighbours became second parents, and village elders doubled as life coaches.

Speaking to The Spectator in Accra on Saturday, Fiator Mordeku Ill said one childhood memory that continues to inspire him is when Togbe Gobo Dake XII, Chief of Tsito, bought him a slate for his first day in school.
Today, he serves as Fiator (father to Togbe Gobo Dake XII) to his childhood benefactor-a powerful circle of legacy and service.

“I was enstooled in my late 30s, so this journey is still quite fresh-just under two years in,” he said, by many standards that is considered quite young, especially given the weight and complexity of traditional leadership.

But I have always believed that leadership is not about how old you are; it is about preparation, mentor­ship, vision and most importantly, a desire to serve.

According to him, becoming a chief at a young age came with immense responsibility, saying “chieftaincy can be complex and sometimes misunder­stood, but my family played a key role in preparing me.”

On the day of his enstoolment, he stood composed, not because it was easy, but because he was aware of the expectations ahead.

The reality, however, only sank in later-when the calls, community is­sues, and needs began pouring in. For him, leadership is not about titles but about providing proactive and adap­tive leadership that reflects the needs of today’s fast-changing society.

Fiator’s reliability with the youth is a defining feature of his reign. “I am not far from the Gen Zs,” he says.

This closeness, according to him, enables him to connect with young people on a peer level, encouraging them to engage in community initia­tives and understand the importance of preserving tradition. It is this con­nection that empowers him to blend traditional authority with modern innovation.

Outside of chieftaincy, Kafui is a passionate architect and advocate of sustainable design.

His love for designing spaces began as early as Junior Secondary School, and today, he continues to inspire with thoughtful architecture that focuses on sustainability, community needs, and the intelligent use of local materials.

To him, architecture is about how people interact with spaces, and one of his proudest contributions is his role in the design of the new Region­al House of Chiefs projects across Ghana’s six new regions-a national undertaking that incorporated diverse stakeholder inputs.

His work as an architect and a chief converges in one of his most symbolic projects-a small concrete bridge he built behind his house.

It replaced a dangerous makeshift path used by locals, especially the elderly, to cross a storm drain.

“Now people walk across with­out fear. That one act of building a bridge, literally and symbolically, pushed me to think more deeply about the many quiet struggles people go through,” he said.

This bridge became the foundation for his greater calling – providing not just charity, but dignity and equity.

Through the Footprints of Glory Foundation, which he founded in 2020 and officially registered in 2021, Kafui has launched impactful initiatives across Tsito and the wider Awudome area.

From funding school fees and ap­prenticeships to constructing small community bridges and launching an online radio station (soon to become a full community station), the founda­tion has been a lifeline for many.

It is supported by respected individ­uals like Dr Yao-Foli Sekyema and Mr Michael Brefo. The foundation’s suc­cess lies in collaboration and shared purpose.

A touching example of his impact is the story of a young boy from a neighbouring village who, due to financial hardship, was working on farms despite being a top student. Fiator took him in, supported his edu­cation, and

today, the boy is university-bound-a story that encapsulates the spirit of his work.

“I don’t dwell much on legacy,” Fia

tor said. “My focus is on providing real, practical solutions that ease burdens and improve lives.”

Whether it’s mentoring architec­ture students, building community projects, or planning future academ­ic pursuits.

Currently, he is studying for an MSc in Facilities Management with the aim of uplifting others through ser­vice, innovation, and collaboration.

He called on the youth to embrace discipline, humility and a deep will­ingness to keep learning, urging the youth not to be afraid of hard work or setbacks and that they were part of the journey.

“Find people who inspire you, ask questions, stay curious, and never forget your roots. Where you come from is your foundation, and it will keep you grounded no matter how far you go and we don’t have to wait until we are older to start serving.

He is married with three children and enjoys working out, playing lawn tennis, travelling, listening to music which he says helps him reflect, plan and recharge.

By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu

In today’s social media-craze world, motivational stories are not in short supply but only a few of them tickle real emotions. Frederick Agaaya Adon­go’s story is one of the rare exceptions.

Last week, beneath the historic elm trees at Yale University’s graduation ceremony, the once cattle herder stood tall in his academic regalia, the same hardened hands that once held farm tools in rural Zorkor in the Upper East Region now clutching a Master of Laws (LL.M) degree from one of the world’s most prestigious institutions.

“This is nothing short of exhilarat­ing,” the cheerful graduand said in an interview, recalling his emergence from a humble background – the dusty paths of his remote village, where dreams often wither under the harsh sun – to becoming the first Ghanaian in almost four decades to graduate with LL.M from the prestigious Yale Law School.

“I had no professional ambitions growing up. I would say my journey to law school was divinely orchestrated,” he said.

A key part of that divine orches­tration is the unwavering support of renowned businessman and philanthro­pist, Alhaji Seidu Agongo, whose gen­erosity transformed the cattle herder’s dream into an extraordinary reality.

Between farm, cattle and classroom

Growing up in rural Ghana, Freder­ick said his early life revolved around farming and animal husbandry.

He recalled dividing his time be­tween school, herding cattle, and going to the farm, costing him precious learning time.

Despite these challenging circum­stances, he persevered through basic education, eventually stopping cattle herding in his final year in Junior High School (JHS) to focus on the Basic Edu­cation Certificate Examination (BECE).

Predictably, funding his education was a constant struggle. “With contri­butions from family and other benevo­lent people, I managed to meet all my financial obligations to complete high school,” he said, though that meant a bigger hurdle was ahead.

At the University of Ghana, he said relied heavily on support from chap­lains and members of the St. Thomas Aquinas Parish and the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

The Agongo factor

Frederick’s life changed dramatically when a senior at the University of Gha­na recognised his potential and recom­mended him to Alhaji Seidu Agongo – a moment he describes as “a significant turning point in my life.”

“Since knowing Alhaji Agongo, he has paid my school fees and provided for my needs throughout my education­al journey,” Frederick explained. “I didn’t have to worry about the burdens that otherwise would have made it dif­ficult for me to focus on my studies,” he said.

The result is an improbable Yale Law School star, now a symbol of possibility and a beacon of hope for rural youth across the nation.

The story of Frederick, who Alhaji Agongo neither knows nor has ever met, is one of many by a philanthropist who believes in sharing himself to help make society better.

He has sponsored hundreds of children across the country through various levels of education, paid the bills of hundred more people and constructed and furnished a state-of-the-art block for the Children’s Depart­ment of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra.

Alhaji Agongo has also funded several females, widows and single mothers through vocational training and entre­preneurships as part of his commit­ment to helping create an equitable society.

“Frederick is an exceptional talent and the least I can do is to support him shine,” he said. “Through that support, he will make his family and society better and the world will be the bigger beneficiary,” he added.

Making history at Yale

For Frederick, Alhaji Agongo’s pres­ence in his life led him into a land of possibilities.

After successfully completing his law degree in Ghana, he said he was faced with offers from both Yale and Harvard Law Schools but settled for Yale for its intimate learning environment with smaller class sizes.

“My checks also strongly suggest that since 1987, we have not had a Ghanaian in the programme,” he notes proudly.

As the only African in his cohort, Frederick decided to “take the road less traveled,” breaking a 38-year absence of Ghanaian representation in Yale’s prestigious LL.M. programme, a journey smoothen by constant financial and moral support from Alhaji Agongo.

For him, the LL.M. holds immense personal significance, more so from Yale.

“Yale Law School not only imparts profound legal knowledge but also instills in us the responsibility to use that knowledge to address society’s most pressing challenges. Coming from a background where higher education seemed like an unlikely dream, the op­portunity to now be part of a commu­nity that strives to create meaningful change in the world is nothing short of exhilarating,” he said.

Genuine philanthropist

For Frederick, Alhaji Agongo’s suc­cess story highlights the transformative impact of a man’s philanthropy that extends far beyond his personal.

“Alhaji Agongo is a genuine philan­thropist,” Frederick said, noting the distant nature of their relationship.

“Since knowing him, we have only spoken on the phone; he has never met me and has nothing to gain from me for helping me. Yet he constantly checks up on me to ensure that I am comfortable and provides whatever I need,” he said.

Frederick revealed that Alhaji Agongo has similarly supported numerous other students whose educational journeys might have been “prematurely truncat­ed but for his benevolence.”

Message to the youth

For Frederick, his situation is a pow­erful testament of how one’s back­ground means less to his/her future.

“One is not defined by their circum­stances,” he said.

“We need to only push ourselves to our elastic limits in the pursuit of our goals,” he said.

He stressed the importance of mentorship and humility, noting that the youth needed to get mentors who can guide them in whatever field they choose to pursue.

“We just need to humble ourselves and be ready to learn from mentors, friends, and colleagues. And we will attain greater heights,” he said.

On what next, he said he return home to work while exploring opportu­nities for further studies.

While at it, his story stands as a pow­erful testament to perseverance, the impact of philanthropy, and the heights that determined Ghanaians can reach with proper support.

By Spectator Reporter