The Queenmother of Agave Tradi­tional Area, Mamaga Anyagadze, has advised Ghanaians not to regard chiefs and queenmothers as evil or idol worshipers.

“They are not evil or idol worship­ers. We should rather take the nec­essary steps to learn more about the custodian role that traditional rulers play in protecting the rich culture and tradition of the people.”

Mamaga Anyagadze gave the advice at the installation and outdooring of Togbe Nornorkuadzi-Tsigbe II and Mama Kumorxe II as chief and queen­mother of the Fievie Clan, a division of the Agave Traditional Area.

The stool has been vacant for the past 100 years.

According to Mamaga Anyagadze, there was nothing evil about chiefs and queenmothers, irrespective of the various traditional practices.

“The Holy Bible identified kings and their roles in the affairs of men, therefore, it is important for Ghana­ians, particularly the youth, to know much about chiefs and the cultural practices of their respective tradition­al areas.”

Mamaga Anyagadze observed that it was unfortunate families and friends related well with people but the mo­ment they became chiefs, they distant themselves from them with the mind that the chiefs and queens indulge in evil.

The queenmother of the Agave Traditional Area explained that the fundamental roles of traditional rul­ers, including leading and providing leadership that would promote peace and unity, were vital to development, and had nothing to do with idol wor­ship and evil spirits.

According to her, the greatest thing citizens could offer traditional rulers was to support them by offering con­structive criticism instead of outright condemnation as evil men and wom­en.

This, she said, was a misconception without any basis at all.

A Senior Divisional Chief of the Adaklu Traditional Area and the Chief of Adaklu-Anfoe, Togbe Agbobada, who was the guest speaker, said due to the vital roles chiefs played, it was mostly difficult to get one, a situation that affected the Fievie Clan of Agave traditional area for over 100 years, stressing the need for the people to safeguard jealously against any act that would distract the new tradition­al rulers.

Togbe Agbobada noted that chiefs were the symbol of hope, peace and unity of every society, and, therefore urged the people of the Fievie Clan to work hard and support the new traditional rulers for the rapid devel­opment of the area.

The newly installed chief, Togbe Nornorkuadzi Tsigbe II, lauded the kingmakers for the confidence reposed in him and the queenmother, Mama Kumorxe, and promised to serve the people to the best of their abilities.

Moreover, Togbe Nornorkuadzi urged the people to uphold the rich cultural practices of Agave, to pave the way for meaningful development, saying without upholding the cultural and traditional values of the area, there could be no meaningful development.

Present at the ceremony were Secretary to the Paramount Chief of Agave Traditional Area, Togbega Xedihor Hlitabo, Mr Charles Amenyo, Deputy Secretary, Mr Holy Kofi Ahia­bu, the Custodian of the Chieftain of the Agave Paramount Chief, Mr Alfred Woyome, the Head of Fievie Clan of Agave, and Togbe Kpegla Aheto.

From Samuel Agbewode, Dabala