HRM Dr. Noble King Odaifio Welentsi exchanging greetings with the guests at his palace
The Paramount Chief of Nungua traditional Council, His Royal Majesty (HRM) King Dr. Noble Odaifio Welentsi III, has expressed worry over the recent clashes between supporters of the country’s two leading political parties, New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the private Nima residence of Nana Akufo Addo, flag bearer of the NPP.
According to him, it was a common knowledge that there are restrictions regarding the movement of political party supporters on a campaign float or other political activities likely to be provocative during election periods.
The chief wondered why the planners of the route for the NDC Supporters Health Walk that fateful Sunday overlooked such a situation.
HRM King Noble Odaifio Welentsi III who is also the President of the Nungua Traditional Council said these during a courtesy call on him by the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah and his campaign team last Wednesday.
The team included the Greater Accra Regional Campaign Coordinator, Sylvester Mensah, Prof. Kwamena Ahwoi, Greater Accra Regional Minister and his Deputy, Nii Laryea Affotey Agbo and Isaac Nii Djanmah Vanderpuye.
Without mincing words he called on leaders of political parties to desist from engaging in activities or passing comments which are likely to affect the relative peace that the country is enjoying.
He also warned against what he referred to as an attitude of playing the “ostrich” in which case one group triggers trouble for the other and hides elsewhere to blame the other warning that the rules of natural justice will catch up on the perpetrators.
The Chief cautioned chiefs who openly declare or endorse political candidates or parties to desist from the practice as it more often underrate the authority of such chiefs and open them up for attacks and ridicule.
“This is alien to our practice as traditional authority welding the trust and authority of the ancestors and people under our respective traditional areas. I have no worries if a chief praises government or a politician but to me openly going out to endorse or declare support for a candidate is just not right,” he remarked.
The Chief of Staff, for his part, informed the Chief that their visit to his traditional area was to interact with various groups of people including market women, drivers and other organized groups to solicit vote for President John Dramani Mahama.
By Solomon Ofori