Abease: Chief assures Mahama of ‘thank you vote’

The chief of Abease in the Brong Ahafo Region Obrempong Kru Takyi II has promised President John Dramani Mahama a “thank you vote” in the upcoming 2016 presidential election for the developments the latter has brought to his community.

Obrempong Kru Takyi II gave the assurance at the commissioning of the Abeaseman Community Senior High School on Wednesday April 27, 2016 at Abease by the president as part of his Accounting to the People tour across the 10 regions of the country.

The traditional ruler thanked Mr Mahama for the numerous infrastructural projects in his area, including the construction of a primary and Junior High School for the people of Abease; a CHPS compound, and a senior high school.

He said: “God continue to bless you: we are so much grateful and we do not know what to say in appreciation. We ask God to grant you long life, we ask that all your dreams come to pass.

“What you have done for us, we have nothing with which we can show appreciation but to give you a thank you vote because one good turn deserves another.

“What you have done for Abeaseman, we will give you a thank you vote because one deserves praise for a job well done. So, for your assistance towards us, we do not have the money to reward you but we will pay back in kind with a thank you vote.”

But the chief was quick to point out that he was not dabbling in partisan politics, but only commending the president for his good works,

“And with what I am saying, someone will say Nana is doing politics. That is not really so, but that every good deed deserves commendation. …Everyone desires development in his community and if this man (Mr Mahama) has done such a nice thing for me, why won’t I adulate him? I will praise him so tomorrow he undertakes another [project],” continued the chief.

The chief’s comments mirror remarks by the acting Okwahumanhene, Nana Asiedu Agyemang III, a fortnight ago, who pledged the support of his people towards the president’s re-election efforts. His comments generated controversy with some groups coming out strongly to ask the chief to retract and apologise for his comments as he had openly identified with a political leader, an act frowned upon in the country’s statutes.

Article 76 of the 1992 constitution makes it illegal for chiefs to get involved in active partisan politics given the traditional authority they wield in Ghanaian society.