The Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, Togbe Afede XIV, believes corruption remains the single biggest threat to Ghana’s development.
He says the country can further its development if citizens uphold truth, stressing that honesty, integrity and commitment to truth are critical to accelerating national progress.
Speaking at the 2026 Asogli Yam Festival, known as Asogli Teza, on Saturday, October 3, 2026, Togbe Afede said corruption has been identified as the most important challenge to the country’s development.
According to him, those who embezzle public funds steal from all Ghanaians, discourage hard work and initiative, stifle productivity and undermine democracy.
“We believe that with more honesty, greater integrity, commitment to the truth, we can further the course of development of our country. We believe that is very important because we identify corruption, as I’ve always said, as the most important challenge to our development process,” he said.
Recounting the cost of corruption to the nation, he said Ghana lost nearly $3 billion to the canker in one year alone in the past, depriving citizens of essential amenities.
“It was estimated that at one time in the past, Ghana lost nearly $3 billion in one year to corruption. We all can imagine what $3 billion can do to our infrastructure, to our educational sector, our health sector, our food sector, and etc. Such leakage deprives us of our essential amenities,” he stated.
The Asogli Overlord highlighted the extent to which corruption affects the entire nation and hampers development.
“People who take those things, who take our money, they steal from all of us. They discourage hard work, they stifle initiative, and they stifle productivity. And they account for the acrimony that’s very important in our politics. They incite divisiveness. They undermine our democracy,” he said.
This year’s celebration also marked the 23rd Anniversary of the ascension of Togbe Afede XIV, as Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State.
Gov’t cannot develop Ghana alone; development is shared responsibility – Ayariga
