In Amity With Africa

W. Bro Dr Sam Adjorlolo LGR - Chief of Atorkor W. Bro Dr Sam Adjorlolo LGR – Chief of Atorkor

Members of the Province will already be aware of the remarkable charitable work undertaken by W. Bro Jacko Flint in Kenya and the support he is given by Middlesex Masons in the various masonic Orders of which he is a member. Four thousand miles away on the other side of Africa similar masonic charitable work is being accomplished in Ghana, also by a Middlesex Mason, W. Bro Sam Adjorlolo LGR, who is a member of St Clair Lodge and Chapter No 2902 in the Province and also of Empire Lodge and Chapter No 2108 in Metropolitan Grand Lodge/Chapter.

In his native Ghana, W. Bro Sam is known as the Dufia of Atorkor, Torgbui Geli Adjorlolo III. Dufia means the senior chief/ruler/”king” of the town and Torgbui is the title of the Chief. Atorkor, where W. Bro Sam is from, is in the Anloga District of the Volta Region of Ghana about two hours east of the Capital Accra.

Map of Ghana - the Volta region lies to the right on the map.

Sam’s particular interest is in the establishment of an early years Education Centre in his home town of Atorkor. This is a project that he and others have been working on since Sam became a freemason in 2008. Not only is there a connection at Lodge/ Chapter level, the project is linked with the Royal Masonic School for Girls (RMSG) based in Rickmansworth. Indeed, the Centre is named RUSPINI HOUSE after the nursey at the RMSG, which has supported financially the development in Ghana. The headmistress at that time (2008), Mrs Diana Rose visited Atorkor in 2009 and expressed a keen interest in forming a partnership with the school in Africa.

Youngsters of Ruspini House in Atorkor. Youngsters of Ruspini House in Atorkor.

The aims of the school are to develop children at a young age so that they will be prepared academically for later school years as well as developing emotional, social and cognitive skills as they move forward into adult life. It should be noted that the Atorkor Development Foundation (ADF), which is a charity registered with the Charity Commission in the UK – www.adfatorkor.org – works also to alleviate the extreme poverty and high levels of unemployment in the area especially after the virtual collapse of the fishing industry which has led to increasing economic hardship.

The recent Commissioning ceremony in 2023 was attended by the District Grand Master for Ghana, RW Isaac Hood.

A second Development phase is planned and the ADF is now raising funds to complete Phase 2 of the building project.

Chief Sam Adjorlolo and colleagues at the Commissioning ceremony at which the District Grand Master of Ghana was present. Chief Sam Adjorlolo and colleagues at the Commissioning ceremony at which the District Grand Master of Ghana was present. HOOD
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