Exiled chief welcomed home

Togbe Satsimadza Afari II, an exiled Divisional Chief of Klikor, near Agbozume, was on Saturday welcomed back home after 12 years refuge in Togo.

Togbe Satsimadza, also enstooled as a development chief of the traditional area, went into exile in 1989 after daring the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) government.

A durbar of chiefs and people, at which a ram and a fowl were slaughtered amidst the firing of musketry, was held to formally signify his return and acceptance by his subjects and colleague chiefs.

A retired Superintendent of Police, Gabriel Glago, who is Chairman of Dunenyo Youth Association in a welcome address, described Togbe Satsimadza as a true representation of a traditional ruler, who was concerned with the welfare of his subjects.

He mentioned the Satsimadza camp, which housed the Togolese refugees in the 1990s under the UNHCR, pipe-borne water, a hospital manned by Korean doctors, which collapsed during his absence, and the premises housing the Klikor Technical School as projects Togbe Satsimadza financed.

Others included petrol filing station, classroom block, furniture for public schools in the area and other uncompleted structures dotted around the area.

Mr Glago said there has been no development in the absence of Togbe Satsimadza and called on the citizens to embrace his return and eschew backbiting for the growth of the area.

Togbe Satsimadza said some local detractors played the PNDC against him out of envy and added that he has come back fully to continue his development agenda.

"This is a promise of no return, we are ready to die for Klikor, he stressed.