I owe Western chiefs no apology – MP

NDC Member of Parliament for Sene, Hon. Twumasi Appiah, has called the bluff of Chiefs of the Western Region, daring them to justify why he owes them an apology for questioning their 10 percent demand of Ghana’s oil revenue solely for the Region’s development.

The Chiefs told President Mills on his visit to the region, that they felt insulted by the MP’s comments that no group of persons could claim ownership of the sea for them to use it as a bargaining chip to demand 10 percent of the oil wealth.

Acting President of the Regional House of Chiefs, Osagyefo Dr Kwamena Enimil VI, told the President through fellow Chief Nana Kwesi Agyemang at a durbar that Mr. Twumasi Appiah must retract his comments or face their wrath.

Hon. Twumasi Appiah made the comment while contributing to a debate on the floor of Parliament during a debate on the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill, where the proposal had come up.

In that debate, he said: “go to the Brong Ahafo Region, we also have gold, diamond, cocoa and everything. Why aren’t we saying give us ten percent of that royalty”.

He emphasized that just as no one could claim ownership of the forest reserves in his home region, so can’t any group claim ownership of the sea for them to demand 10 percent of the revenue accrued from it.

Hon. Twumasi noted that there is nothing wrong with his comments and would never apologise or retract.

“So now it has now become an offence to speak the truth…It is a fact, no individual can claim ownership of the sea. I should apologise and withdraw what, the truth? What am I supposed to apologise for, for stating something that is factual, that indeed no group of persons can claim ownership of the sea.

“If I had said something that was derogatory or I had attacked their integrity then they can ask me to apologise but I said this on the floor of parliament. As long as I have not offended the standing orders and the constitution I have the right to speak”.

Source: Citifmonline.com