Honourable Regional Ministers, District Directors of Education , District Commander of Police, the D C E of Kpando, The Clergy, Togbewo, Mamawo, The Media, Distinguished invited Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.

Togbega Atakora VII, I’d like to thank you and your people, that I now consider as my own, for the great honor that is bestowed upon me here today.

When you asked me more than one year ago to accept the title of queen, I asked for some time to think it over. You may have found this somewhat strange. However, I did not simply want to accept a responsibility that I feared I may not be able to do justice.

To me, the title Queen of Alavanyo also represents a commitment, a commitment for example to promote social and economic exchange and to encourage and build cultural and intellectual „bridges“ between the people of Germany and the people of Ghana. I see this as my responsibility and for me it means a high degree of personal involvement and time. I’m not sure if I can live up to my own expectations.

This is why I asked for a bit of time to think about it. I’ve had several months now to think and I’ve come to the conclusion that I don’t really have any other choice than  to accept this duty and the responsibilities that will come with it. Especially as it compasses many thoughts and ideas that I have been harboring for some time.

Togbega, I’d like to thank you personally for supporting my economic efforts on behalf of the natural herbs in Ghana in such selfless way and with such great involvement. Without your help, a lot of what has been accomplished would not have been possible. I have traveled extensively through Africa and in particular through Ghana. In a way, my economic activities are an attempt on my part to compensate for the century-long exploitation by colonialism of a continent I have come to love dearly.

I’ve been studying the history of African medicinal herbs for some time now and I feel it is important to make this knowledge, which to a large extent has been passed from generation to generation, accessible to Europeans. I strongly believe that fulfilling this goal will also contribute to the economic success of the people of Ghana in the future as it has done during the past two years.
The traditional knowledge of the herbalists, passed on from generation to generation can also be used in a modified form by Europeans. Why shouldn’t natural substances have the same effect on us that they have on Africans? The media has promoted world-wide a products for vitality. These are mostly chemical products, which have many side effects and under certain circumstances can even lead to death. In spite of these drawbacks, they have been sold millions times. Ghanaians on the other hand have been using a natural plant extract for centuries for the same problem.

Our goal is to acquaint Europeans with this plant extract as a natural alternative to the „chemical blast“ in the hope that many people – man as well woman – will choose this natural product in the future.

Harvesting the plants we need for production does not create any damage in nature. However, we’d like to invest in the environment by planting seedlings. And we’d like to take part of the money we earn by marketing this product in Europe and reinvest it in your country by contributing to various social projects, like we did already

I do hope that I can live up to the honour that is being bestowed upon me here today.

Togbega  I’d like to thank you and your people for giving me this opportunity.

May God bless you and the people of Alavanyo - and, of course, my second homeland Ghana.

Mama Akosua I