Ho Bankoe Women Petition Togbe Afede XIV to Destool Togbe Afiatsoa III

The Asogli State witnessed a new turn in leadership on October 5th during the grand durbar of the yam festival since its commencement in 2003.

There was quite a bit of drama behind the scenes before Agbogbomefia Togbe Afede XIV, along with his chiefs, elders, and the people of Ho, made their way to the durbar grounds.

On Friday, October 25, 2024, the women of Ho, Bankoe, along with the queens, held a press conference to petition Togbe Afede XIV to destool Togbe Afiatsoa III, the Mankrado of Ho, Bankoe.

Background of the Story

In October 2024, Ho, Bankoe celebrated their yam festival with a grand durbar. Before the durbar, the Mankrado of Ho, Bankoe—who was enstooled in June 2023—learned that he would not be sitting beside the Agbogbomefia.

As a result, Togbe Afiatsoa III decided to boycott some of the 2024 Te Zã activities, including the Grand Durbar.

He also instructed the chiefs and queens from his clan to boycott the event; however, they later defied his orders and attended the durbar.

Why Togbe Afiatsoa was prohibited from sitting beside Togbe Afede XIV

Togbe Afiatsoa III, a sub-divisional chief of Ho and the current Mankrado of Ho-Bankoe, was enstooled in June 2023.

There was a new development recently where it was learned that the Mankrado of Ho, Bankoe claimed “that he is the Dutor of Ho and Dufia of Ho-Bankoe, coupled with his insistence that he should be gazetted as the Overlord of Ho.”

Due to this development, some measures were taken against him. Togbe Afiatsoa III, not so happy with the measures instituted against him, decided to take matters differently.  

Why the call for the destoolment of Togbe Afiatsoa III?

Speaking with Mama Bobi III, “the Mankrodo out of anger and displeasure, invoked the gods of the land, Ho Si and Ative, to harm Mamaga Akua Dei II, the Queen and Paramount Queen of Asogli, accusing her of occupying a position he believes rightfully belongs to him.”

“Additionally, he called upon the same gods to bring death to Ametsitsie Amoaku, one of the respected Elders of Ho-Bankoe, whose only act was to correct Togbe Afiatsoa III’s misconceptions.”

Togbe Afiatsoa’s elders showed “displeasure with the situation and requested that immediate rites be performed to mitigate the impact of these curses.”

The necessary rites were performed at the palace on October 10, 2024, by the elders of Ho, Bankoe.

Despite the rites conducted by the elders of the land, Mankrado was required to undo the curses personally—something he was unwilling to do.

After the event, he left for the United Kingdom, where he resides. Togbe Afiatsoa III was then given a two-week ultimatum to apologize to the queen and perform the necessary rituals to reverse the curses.

It was learned that Togbe Afiatsoa returned to the country and left without any action. So therefore, the women of Ho, Bankoe decided to hold a press conference and petition Togbe Afede XIV to remove the Mankrodo from his position.

“Until Togbe Afiatsoa III is removed from his position, the women of Bankoe will boycott all public gatherings, including funerals, celebrations, and other important events that require their presence, as well as that of queens, youth leaders, and young people, said Mama Bobi III.”

Press Release by Bankoe Women

HO-BANKOE WOMEN

P. O. BOX HP 523. HO

October 25, 2024.

HRM TOGBE AFEDE XIV

AGBOGBOMEFIA OFASOGLI

Your Majesty,

PETITION FOR THE DESTOOLMENT OF TOGBE AFIATSOA III – AFETORFIA MANKRADO OF HO-BANKOE

1. Introduction

1. In a community where a single member is undermined, disrespected, injured, and silenced, and care is not given, the hope for order, belongingness and togetherness may be lost in that community. This often happens when we allow foul behaviour to prevail. Yes, ‘evil’, it is said, ‘is evil no matter who does it.’ And, as Dietrich Bonhoeffer, rightly puts it, “silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”

• Rightly so, an evil has befallen our community: the invocation of the gods of the land, and pronounced curses intended to cause harm to Mamaga Akua Dei II, our Queen and Paramount Queen of Asogli. Hence, our petition.

1. Background

• TogbeAfiatsoa III is a sub-divisional Chief of Ho and the current Mankrado of Ho-Bankoe. He was enstooled in June 2023 and has since embarkedon a series of actions that have the potential to disturb the peace of Ho if these actions are not nipped in the bud.

• As you are already aware, recent events surrounding TogbeAfiatsoa III’s claim that he is the Dutor of Ho and Dufia of Ho-Bankoe, coupled with his insistence that he should be gazetted as the Overlord of Ho, led to certain measures being instituted to clarify his rightful position. 
• These measures, unfortunately, infuriated TogbeAfiatsoa III, prompting him to boycott some of the 2024 TeZã activities, including the grand durbar, primarily because he would not be seated by your side during the event. 

• In an effort to disrupt the proceedings, TogbeAfiatsoa III further attempted to prevent Chiefs and Queens from his clan from attending the durbar. However, in a commendable display of wisdom and loyalty, these Chiefs and Queens defied his orders and participated in the durbar. 

• In a fit of anger, frustration or both, TogbeAfiatsoa III resorted to invoking the gods of the land, specifically “Ho Si,” and pronounced curses intended to cause harm to Mamaga Akua Dei II, your Queen and Paramount Queen of Asogli, accusing her of occupying a position he believes rightfully belongs to him. 

• Additionally, he called upon the same gods to bring death to AmetsitsieAmoaku,one of the respected Elders of Ho-Bankoe, whose only act was to correct TogbeAfiatsoa III’s misconceptions. 

• We find these actions deeply reprehensible and entirely unbecoming of a chief of Bankoe. 

1. One of the courageous and insightful Queens from Muviefe was bold enough to bring these egregious actions to our attention, even though several others, including TogbeAfiatsoa III’s own Elders, were present when he invoked the curses. 

1. Remedy Sought

1. Following this, the Elders of Mamaga Akua Dei II summoned the Elders of TogbeAfiatsoa III to verify the authenticity of these claims. 

1. Upon inquiry, the Elders of TogbeAfiatsoa III confirmed that the curses were indeed invoked. They expressed their displeasure with the situation and requested that immediate rites be performed to mitigate the impact of these curses. These rites were conducted at the Palace on October 10, 2024, by the Elders of Ho-Bankoe, but they also insisted that TogbeAfiatsoa III personally return to undo the curses. 

1. However, shortly after committing this grave transgression, TogbeAfiatsoa III left Ho and returned to his base in the United Kingdom. 

1. As women of Ho-Bankoe, we also called upon the Elders of TogbeAfiatsoa III to compel their son to return to Ho, publicly apologise to our revered Queen, and perform the necessary rituals to reverse the curses. This appeal was made on October 10, 2024, at the Palace. 

1. Regrettably, the two-week ultimatum we issued expired on October 24, 2024, without any meaningful response from TogbeAfiatsoa III. 

1. We have been reliably informed that while TogbeAfiatsoa III did return to Ho, he deliberately failed to meet with the women of Ho-Bankoe or take any steps to rectify the situation. 

1. This only serves to highlight the chauvinistic disposition of the man known as TogbeAfiatsoa III. 

1. Actions to Be Taken

1. It is common knowledge that a Chief is strictly prohibited from invoking curses, especially against a superior, let alone an innocent one. 

1. Such behaviour is grounds for immediate destoolment, as it constitutes gross insubordination, treachery, and a deliberate attempt to undermine the peace and unity of Ho-Bankoe. 

• Clearly, TogbeAfiatsoa III has been rejected by the gods of our land, as the adage goes: “He whom the gods wish to destroy, they first make mad.”

• We, therefore, humbly submit this petition to you as the leader of Ho-Bankoe, and by extension, the entire Ho and Asogli State, to bring to fruition what has already transpired in the spiritual realm. You are the custodian of our customs and traditions.

• We respectfully demand the immediate destoolment of TogbeAfiatsoa III and the enstoolment of a more deserving and capable individual to assume this honourable position.

• Conclusion

• In rephrasing Martin Niemöller’s thoughts,if today the target was Mamaga and we did not speak out – because we were not Mamaga. Then a time will come when they would come for the rest of us, and there would be no one left to speak for us. And, as Elie Wiesel underscored, “there may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest” against an injustice.

• Indeed, we cannot stand aloof, as Women and Mothers,for this ill-fated act of TogbeAfiatsoa IIIto go unnoticed and unresolved. It is not merely unprecedented, but it is also a wanton disregard for our worth asAsogli Women, our tradition and customsand a gross form of insubordination to the Paramount Queen of Asogli and Leader of Women in Ho-Bankoe. If today is the Paramount Queen. Then, who would it be, tomorrow?

• We kindly await your prompt intervention, in order that law and order prevail in Ho-Bankoe.

Yours sincerely

• Signatories

Signed by

Mama TutuFibe II

Mama Bobi III

Mama Asiamoah II

Mama Awude II

Mama WuorIII

Mama Evionor II

TsiameObakuma

Tsiame Bonto

TsiameManyra

Tsiame Dabi

SohefiaPatricia Afi Adzah

Sohefia Clara Danku

Sohefia TinaAwui

SohefiaRose Afi Hayi