Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin
President John Dramani Mahama will today pay a courtesy call on the Okyenhene and President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, at Ofori Panin Fie, Kyebi.
The visit forms part of President Mahama’s re-election campaign tour of the Eastern Region.
However, Bismarck Tawiah Boateng and Apau Wiredu Haruna, Eastern Regional National Democratic Congress (NDC) Chairman and Youth Organizer respectively, will not be among the team.
This is because the two were recently banned from entering the king’s palace for reportedly disrespecting the Okyenhene over the past three years.
The two NDC executives were said to have insulted Osagyefuo, leading to the traditional authorities banning them after they had refused to render an apology.
A number of NDC activists have been banned by some traditional authorities across the country over reported insulting behaviours.
The Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council in a letter signed by its Assistant State Secretary, D.M. Ofori-Atta, reminded the leadership of the NDC that the ban on Tawiah Boateng and Apau Wiredu Haruna still holds.
The letter, which was in response to an earlier letter from the Regional Minister, Mavis Ama Frimpong, indicating President Mahama’s visit to the palace today, October 27, 2016, said, “We believe strongly that we have the right to expect that your outfit will be committed to take steps to ensure that the campaign delegation excludes the banned Eastern Regional Executives to avoid any protocol breach.
“This will be necessary to safeguard the existing cordial relations between Okyeman and the Government of the NDC.”
The Okyeman Council however, assured the leadership of the NDC that the usual royal courtesies of the Okyenhene would be accorded President Mahama.
By Cephas Larbi
cephrok@yahoo.com