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Showing selflessness, patriotism and dedicated service to national progress …Togbe Afedi XIV leads by example
A selfless humble leader is someone who does not regard oneself as greater than his/her team members. He or she instead, joins hands in helping each team member, does not feel embarrassed to be real and treats each member as family. A selfless leader will genuinely care for each individual in the team irrespective of race, gender, class status or other standards but rather treats everyone according to their talents and the efforts that they put into the task. That efforts, he or she believes, naturally inspire other team members to do the same.
SELFLESS LEADERSHIP QUALITIES
Instead of commanding the team, he or she facilitates the members to achieve the desired goals. A selfless leader, will love to celebrate success together, thinks of the team, never allows any negative impact to reach the team and more importantly analyzing ways to improve and ensure the success of his or her team.
It is a fact that a leader who models selflessness inspires trust and confidence because people believe that they will be supported and protected. This level of care encourages people to emulate the same behavior, leading to reciprocity of the loyalty and gratitude.For me, there are three core principles for selfless leaders and these are, generosity, empathy and excellence.
LEADERSHIP BY EXAMPLE
Similarly, exemplary leadership is a leadership style where you model the behavior you want to see in your team members. When you lead by example, you don’t just push your team members towards excellence but rather demonstrate actively that excellence. People demonstrate leadership qualities by offering to help colleagues who are having problems, being supportive and encouraging, giving credit to others, showing honesty and empathy for others in times of difficulties.
Even the Holy Bible states in 1 Timothy 4:12 that, “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love in faith and in purity”. That shows the level of importance in exemplary leadership.
REJECTION OF EX-GRATIA BY TOGBE AFEDE
Having enlightened my cherished readers and patrons about the importance and significance of these laudable attributes to mankind in the schemes of development and advancement of society, I am inclined to relate it to one of the nation’s finest and important personalities in the chieftaincy institution who have shown and continues to show empathy and patriotism in our country’s forward march to prosperity.
The indefatigable TogbeAfede XIV, the Paramount Chief of the Asogli State in the Volta Region and former President of the National House of Chiefs has of late been in the news for a good reason. The 65-year old chief who is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Africa World Airlines and Board Chairman of Accra Hearts of Oak, keeps trending in the social and traditional media for having rejected an amount of GHc 365,392.00ex-gratia paid to him by the government for serving on the Council of State. According to him it was inappropriate to receive the cash when he had already taken salaries for his work.
REASONS BEHIND HIS REJECTION
He explained that his rejection of the payment was consistent with his general abhorrence of the payment of huge ex-gratia and other outrageous benefits to people who have by their own volition offered to serve our poor country. He, however, rejected speculations being bandied in some circles that the payment was made to trap him. “I believe it was paid to everybody who served on the Council of State. However, I thought that extra payment was inappropriate for a short, effectively part-time work for which I receive monthly salary and was entitled to other privileges. So I was very uncomfortable with it”, he said.
Honestly,I did not think that TogbeAfede who is quite rich because of the conglomerates of businesses under his care, rejected the money because of his wealth. To me personally, this traditional ruler, noted for his benevolence, rejected the money on principle and heart feeling because he felt the part-time job did not deserve such an emolument as he indicated in his rejection letter. This man is indeed, a loyal, dedicated and honest personality who deserves commendation from all right thinking persons. He has shown leadership by example and selflessness which must be emulated by responsible citizens in the society. Even though he rejected his ex-gratia on personal ground and would not expect his colleagues who served with him on the council to do same, I (writer) would have loved that it is not too late, they ought to follow Togbe’s shining example and decline the offer unless they have already received their entitlements.
TAKING A SECOND LOOK AT THE EX-GRATIA AWARD
The action taken by TogbeAfedi, has brought to the fore the need for this country to take a second look at this huge lump sum ex-gratia awards for some categories of workers such as Ministers of State, Parliamentarians, District Chief Executives and other Article 71 office holders for every four years. The present economic hardships need to be taken into consideration in the payment of this ex-gratia. The current practice in which whether you lose or win an election as a parliamentarian, you get payment of an ex-gratia is wasteful and does not help the nation. The way forward is to ensure that, those who do not retain their seats are the people to be paid ex-gratia and not all parliamentarians.Honestly, this payment of this ex-gratia as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution needs to be taken a second look and review if necessary, to reflect the present economic challenges.
SOCIAL INTERVENTION INITIATIVES IN HUGE ARREARS
Is it not absurd and shameful that while the various social intervention initiatives such as theLivlihood Empowerment Against Poverty ( LEAP), the Ghana School Feeding Program and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) are in huge arrears, the nation continues to pay fantastic ex-gratia to some category of workers to the disadvantage of the poor and vulnerable persons within the society? Such a behavior to me and indeed, all right thinking people, is callous and inhuman.Is it not the same government which told Ghanaians that in view of the economic challenges, we should tighten our belts? Is it now a question of robbing Peter to pay Paul? That is left to posterity to answer.
It is a fact that politics in Ghana has seriously been monetized with the payments of a lot of benefits to our politicians and that is why people especially the youth who finish their education without any working experience are all eager and anxious to venture into politics because they find it as the easiest way of getting rich overnight.
FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLES OF OTHER COUNTRIES
Just visit countries like India and Sweden, whose economies are far better than Ghana in terms of Gross Domestic Products (GDP) and see how they are doing their politics. For instance, in Sweden, as I indicated in my last article about the need for us to follow their modesty and simplicity, there are no lifetime pension for former parliamentarians, MPs are expected to use public transport during sitting hours, the whole parliament operates with three vehicles which are used for official duties. Swedish MPs have no secretaries or assistants and they have to plan their own schedules. Public Service in Sweden is neither prestigious nor lucrative.
We are in a terrible times and struggling to come out of the woods and, therefore, we need to adopt practices that would not put extra burden on our economy. We must as much as possible, try to avoid extravagancy and live within our means. As a matter of priority, let us protect the public purse by cutting down on all frivolous expenses and conserve the needed funds to build our economy for sustainable growth and development.
The eminent chief, TogbeAfede, who is a profound businessman with a lot of companies at his disposal, has demonstrated that if we are able to cut down wastage in the system, we can generate adequate funds to meet our financial obligations.TogbeAfede has indeed, shown high level of patriotism, selflessness and sympathetic to national development and must be celebrated, rather than the criticisms and vilifications by a section of the society on political lines. Posterity will judge him for his positive action.
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By Charles Neequaye
Walk into any supermarket in Accra, Kumasi, or Tamale today, and you will see the modern Ghanaian diet packaged as ‘progress.’ You will see breakfast cereals with cartoon mascots, fruit drinks that are mostly sugar and colour, and snacks promising energy and happiness in bright fonts.
Even products loaded with salt and unhealthy fats often wear a health halo labeled as fortified or natural, while the real nutritional risk is hidden in tiny print on the back. This is not just a consumer inconvenience; it is a public health blind spot. Ghana is living through a silent surge of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like hypertension, diabetes, and stroke.
These conditions quietly drain household income and steal productive years. According to the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates, NCDs are now responsible for nearly 45 per cent of all deaths in Ghana.
We cannot build a healthy nation on a food environment designed to confuse people at the point of purchase. Ghana must mandate simple front-of-pack warning labels (FOPWL) on high-sugar, high-salt, and high-fat packaged foods because consumers deserve truth at a glance, and industry must be pushed to reformulate.
Why Back-of-Pack Labels Are Not Enough
In theory, consumers can read nutrition panels. In reality, most Ghanaians shop under pressure, limited time, rising prices, and children tugging at their sleeves. The back label is a relic that requires a high cognitive load to interpret—essentially, the seller knows what is inside, but the buyer cannot easily tell.
This ‘information asymmetry’ is not fair. It is not consumer choice when the information needed to choose well is deliberately difficult to find.
Simple warning labels like the black octagons used in the Chilean Model act as a ‘stop-and-think’ nudge. They do not ban products but they simply tell the truth so people can decide.
Reshaping Our Food Environment
A generation ago, Ghana’s meals were mostly home-prepared, like kenkey and banku with soups and stews. Today, ultra-processed foods have become the norm, especially in urban areas. Children are growing up with sugary drinks and salty snacks as everyday items, not occasional treats.
If Ghana is serious about prevention, we must act where decisions are made—thus, the shelf. Warning labels protect parents from sugar traps and pressure the market to improve. When warning labels are mandatory, manufacturers start to compete to make healthier recipes to avoid the stigma of the label.
Addressing the Pushback
Industry will argue that labels create fear or that education alone is enough. However, health education is slow; labels work immediately. While the informal street food sector is a challenge, regulating pre-packaged goods is the practical starting point because the supply chain is traceable. We cannot wait until the whole system is perfect; we must start where action is feasible.
A 2026 Implementation Roadmap for Ghana
To move from talk to action, Ghana needs this 5-step plan:
- Issue mandatory regulation: The Ministry of Health, Food and Drug Authority (FDA), and Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) must define the label format and nutrient thresholds for all pre-packaged foods.
- Simple, bold symbols: Use plain language and clear symbols, such as “HIGH IN SUGAR,” designed for busy families, not experts.
- Transparent thresholds: Adopt technically defensible standards adapted to the Ghanaian diet.
- Transition and enforce: Provide a 12–18 month period for manufacturers to reformulate, followed by firm enforcement at ports and retail centers.
- National literacy campaign: The Ghana Health Service must pair labels with public messages explaining why high salt or sugar increases disease risk.
Conclusion: Truth Is Not a Luxury
Prevention is cheaper than treatment. A warning label costs little compared to the price of dialysis, stroke rehabilitation, or lifelong diabetes complications. A black octagon on a box of biscuits is more than a label; it is a shield for the health of all Ghanaians. It is time to put the truth where we can see it, right on the front.
By Abigail Amoah Sarfo
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Natives of the Kenkey Kingdom were mad with joy. They were still recovering from the hangover of the kingdom’s loss of the African Cup when their spirits were rekindled. Their great warrior, Zoom Zoom, stormed Melbourne and made sure that every Australian refused food. And that was after he had drawn contour lines on the face of their idol, Jeff Fenech.
Not only did the terrible warrior transform Old Boy Jeff’s face into a contour map useful for geography lessons, but he also accomplished the feat of retaining the much-envied super-kenkeyweight title against all odds. The warrior had not been eating hot kenkey for nothing.
The Fight Against Fenech
When Jeff Fenech bit the dust in the eighth round, I was tempted to consider if Adanko Deka could not have faced him in any twelve-rounder, title or non-title bout. Adanko has improved tremendously, and soon he would be facing Pernell Whitaker.
Sincerely, I was pessimistic about Azumah’s man, who the last time took him through twelve grueling rounds of rough boxing. I expressed my fears to my colleague Christian Abbew, alias Gbonyo, who surprisingly had total confidence that the Australian brawler would fall, predictably in Round Five.
Gbonyo gave reasons for his contention, all of which I counteracted using the age factor. Fact is, I didn’t know that contrary to the laws of nature, Azumah was all the time growing younger.
When Fenech fell briefly in round one, I asked my brother whether it was the same Fenech that fought Azumah in Las Vegas. Sure, it was the same Fenech, all out to beat Azumah before his countrymen.
But the African Professor had no intention of making the Australian a hero. As he spun round the desperate Aussie, dancing and stinging out his jabs, it was not too long before I realized that the end was near.
The Eighth Round Showdown
Two minutes into the eighth round, the African ring-master proved to the whole world that he was a true son of Bukom. He himself was cornered, but like the tough nut he is, he managed to break free before overwhelming the panting Australian with several blows that made him crash headlong.
Moments after, the referee, expressing fatherly sympathy, stopped the fight to prevent an obituary. After the ordeal, Fenech’s fairly handsome face was full of newly constructed hills, valleys, ox-bow lakes—whatever. I noticed that his nose was very tired and had a miniature volcano sitting restlessly on it. Obviously, Jeff’s wife will have to nurse that nose back to its normal shape—but I’d advise her not to use iodine, otherwise her dear husband will wail like a banshee.
Reflections on Boxing
Because Mohammed Ali was the kind of boxer kids liked, many school-going kids often entertained the wish of becoming like him. I remember one day when I told my father I wanted to become a boxer, and he advised me to first complete my education to the highest level. Then, if I decided to become a boxer and was knocked out a couple of times, I’d fall back on my degrees and make a living.
Boxing used to be interesting when bouts were fought more with the mouth and tongue than with gloves. You had to brag well, psychologically belittling your opponent before beating him up physically. Mohammed Ali became a very successful pugilist because he also managed to become a poet. He often blew his horn across America, calling himself the “pretty boxer” and opponents like Joe Frazier “the gorilla.”
Ali made a living fighting hard fists like Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, Jerry Quarry, George Foreman, Leon Spinks, and Trevor Berbick. Twice he came back from retirement to fight just for money. It was Larry Holmes who finally pensioned him, and since then the great Ali has never been himself.
The Path Ahead for Azumah
When Azumah nailed Jeff Fenech on the cross and barked almost immediately that he was after the head of Pernell Whitaker, I was happy but concerned. I would have been happier if he had announced his resignation there and then—he would have been more of a hero. Beating Fenech in Australia is more newsworthy than facing Whitaker in the States.
With Whitaker, it might be a little difficult. The “Sweet Pea” is agile, has a crooked body like a snake with diarrhea, and stands awkwardly as a southpaw. He is known for having the fastest pair of fists and the rare ability to dodge punches no matter how close they may be.
Much as I do not doubt that Azumah can take his title, I also don’t want him to retire beaten. I want him to retire as a hero and live a fuller, healthy life.
As Azumah himself said after dishing Fenech, he is now a professor and has something to show for it. Like a true professor, I think it is time he resigned and took up training young talents who could draw inspiration from him and become like him in the future.
Closing Thoughts
I must say that although ageing boxers like Larry Holmes and George Foreman are making a name for themselves, boxing is not like the Civil Service, where you can even change your age and retire at 74. Zoom Zoom has delighted the hearts of the natives, and Sikaman will forever hold him in high esteem—but only when he retires as a hero.
This article was first published on Saturday, March 7, 1992.
