The Words of the Beltrami Family
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The Words of the Beltrami Family |
West
Virginia state coordinator for the Universal Peace Federation
Pier-Angelo Beltrami, right, presents King of the Republic of Togo
Francois A. Ayi with the organization's Ambassador for Peace award
Sunday in Shepherdstown.
SHEPHERDSTOWN WV -- The Universal Peace Federation of West Virginia awarded the U.S.-crowned King of the Republic of Togo, Francois A. Ayi, with the organization's ambassador for peace award Sunday during a ceremony at Asbury United Methodist Church in Shepherdstown.
Ayi, whose claim of royal standing has been met with controversy in the past, was nominated by the organization to receive the award for what it says has been his humanitarian efforts in Africa and throughout the world.
Ayi's limousine arrived at the church on Kearneysville Pike with a police escort Sunday afternoon. He was greeted at the door by Pier-Angelo Beltrami, West Virginia state coordinator for the Universal Peace Federation, as well as several others, including the mayor of Shepherdstown.
"The Ambassador for Peace initiative is a worldwide network of leaders dedicated to transcending racial, religious and ethnic boundaries to promote a genuine world of peace. The Ambassador for Peace has become one of the world's largest and most diverse networks of peace leaders," Beltrami said.
He said ambassadors for peace recipients are also committed to promoting reconciliation, overcoming barriers and building peace.
"I feel humbled to be called an ambassador for peace and to receive this," Ayi said during a formal award ceremony Sunday afternoon.
Ayi is not without controversy. Following a 2000 trip to Florida, a U.S. State Department official told a reporter that the agency doesn't recognize Ayi as an official representative of Togo and that the small West African nation has no traditional royalty other than traditional chieftains.
According to his official biography, Ayi, who came to the U.S. in 1987, says in 1992 he was appointed as the crown prince by his grandfather, the late King Foli Bebe Ayi XIV. In 1994, he was crowned king at a ceremony held in Washington, D.C. His biography also says he was crowned as the head of the Organization of Kings and Queens of Africa in 2002. Supporters describe him as a benevolent monarch in exile, while some detractors have gone so far as to allege he is a fraud.
"In spite of controversy, attacks, accusations and character assassinations, this young king rises above all and carries on the torch of hope and love to many people around the world," a portion of a program given to visitors Sunday read.
Ayi is the founder and president of the Royal F.A. Ayi Foundation and the The Royal Green Cross Foundation, both of which are based in Virginia. The Universal Peace Federation says Ayi's humanitarian organization is dedicated to helping the people of Togo and throughout Africa live better and prosperous lives through education, clean water projects and microfinancing, as well as providing food, clothing and medical supplies.
"He's multifaceted in many ways. The only way to sum this up in a nutshell is that this man possesses the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Samson, he has the heart of David and the mind of Christ. This man is truly the embodiment of love," said Ayi's personal assistant, Rebecca Basford.
Ayi later gave to a speech to those in attendance and used the opportunity to call for peace in Togo amid escalating political turmoil in the small West African nation.
Togo's president, Faure Gnassingbe, came to power in disputed and violent elections in 2005 after the death of his father, who had run the country for nearly four decades. He was re-elected to a second term in 2010 amid opposition claims of fraud and intimidation, according to international news outlets.
Opposition protestors have defied a government ban on demonstrations ahead of a parliamentary election in October resulting in civil unrest and violence. Ayi said Sunday rising food prices have also left citizens hungry and without food.
"They say they are tired. Many of their husbands and their children have been killed," Ayi said. "The street is not safe, and their home is not safe. This family, one family, has ruled them for 40 something years. It's about time to stop."
Ayi said he is praying for "Godly leadership" to come into place in Togo, calling for peace in the troubled country. He also called on those Sunday to pray for the people of Togo.
"I believe God will use your prayers, your time, your contacts and your network to pray for the innocent bloodshed to stop," Ayi said.
He said people in his native Togo have been kidnapped and killed for more than a year and asked for the world's attention to focus on the ongoing turmoil.
"What we are expecting from the world is your prayer. One blood drop from my people is hurting my soul. Every night somebody's father, or somebody's mother, or sister or uncle has been hurt," Ayi said. "It's been three weeks now that they've been shooting tear gas, killing them and even hurting priests."