Sunyani chiefs snub Nana Addo but say he’s not an enemy

After dismissing reports that they held a meeting to stop the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) from holding its Extraordinary National Delegates Conference in the Brong Ahafo Regional capital Sunyani, the Sunyani Traditional Council has turned down a request by the party’s Flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to pay a courtesy call on them.

Prior to Saturday’s conference, reports had suggested that the Traditional Council was in a meeting to plot against the NPP because according to them, they had not been informed about the event to take place at the Sunyani Coronation Park.

But the Krontihene of the Sunyani Traditional Council, Nana Bofotia Boamponsem, later told Citi News that although they had not been informed about the programme as “custodians of the land”, there was no such meeting to halt the event.

Krontihene of the Sunyani Traditional Council, Nana Bofotia Boamponsem.

There appears to be bad blood between the NPP and the chiefs in the region, following a recent public endorsement of the candidature of President John Mahama for the 2016 elections by the Chief of the Sunyani Traditional Area.

The Sunyani Chief, Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri, confidently stated that the Brong Ahafo Region was going to give Mahama 80 percent of votes in the 2016 elections.

The assertion was considered a blatant breach of Article 276 Clause 1 of the 1992 constitution which states that, “A chief shall not take part in active party politics; and any chief wishing to do so and seeking election to Parliament shall abdicate his stool or skin”.

But the chiefs are rather angry because according to them, the NPP’s Brong Ahafo Regional Chairman made derogatory remarks against them for the Sunyani Chief’s comment.

They had thus demanded an apology from the NPP for  the supposed derogatory remarks, but that has not happened yet.

In a statement responding to a request by Nana Addo to pay a courtesy call on them ahead of Saturday’s conference,the Sunyani Traditional Council said it could not receive him.

The statement signed by the Akwamuhene of the Council, Nana Kwaku Sarbeng Ababio II, and addressed to the Brong Ahafo Regional Secretary of the NPP, is captured below:

Re: Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo’s visit to the Brong Ahafo Region

“Your letter on the above subject matter dated 1th December 2015 has been received by the Council.

We are sorry to inform you that the Council cannot receive Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo and his entourage in view of the fact that the impasse between the Sunyani Traditional Council and the B/A Branch of the NPP has not as yet been resolved.

The impasse came about as a result of the derogatory remarks by the Regional Chairman of the NPP Mr. Asamoah Kyeremeh against Nananom [The Chiefs].

The Council wishes to state emphatically that Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo is not an enemy and that we do not have any personal qualms with him as a person.

Despite this statement, the Krontihene of the Sunyani Traditional Council has in a rather contradictory response told Citi News they have no issues with the NPP.

Watch an interview with the Krontihene in the video below.