The attention of the Office of Nana Akufo-Addo, the 2012 Presidential Candidate of the NPP, has been drawn to false newspaper publications that he was late in attending the grand durbar to climax this year’s Odwira celebration.
This is not true as Nana Akufo-Addo was not late in arriving at the durbar grounds. Indeed, Nana Akufo-Addo acted in strict accordance with the protocol instructions given him by the Okuapeman Traditional Council.
Nana Akufo-Addo, per the invitation given him by the Okuapeman Traditional Council was asked to be present at 1:30pm on Friday, October 1, 2010. On his way, he received correspondence from the organisers that the program had delayed and he will be notified once it was okay for him to arrive.
Nana Akufo-Addo respectfully agreed and waited in Akropong until he received further instructions from the protocol officers of the event and he immediately proceeded to the durbar grounds, which was a short distance from the house he was waiting.
On his arrival, Nana Akufo-Addo was received and led by protocol officers of the durbar (aides from the palace) to greet the Okuapehene, Nana Addo Dankwa III, Chiefs and Queen mothers and all other invited dignitaries present. When Nana Akufo-Addo and his delegation of three others, led by the MP for Akropong, W. O. Boafo got to the dais, where the government officials were seated, a cordon of Police officers rushed forward with arms stretched to stop them from climbing the dais saying “No greeting, you cannot greet the Regional Minister.”
To this, neither Nana Akufo-Addo nor any member of his delegation offered any word of protest. As the dais was his last point of greeting, Nana Akufo-Addo turned back to take a seat reserved for him at the right hand side of the Okuapehene, Nana Addo Dankwa III, his traditional grandfather.
It was another fifteen minutes after Nana Akufo-Addo exchanged pleasantries and sat down before the program started. He did not arrive in the middle of the program.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, after his speech went to greet the Okuapehene, Nana Addo Dankwa III and also shook hands with Nana Akufo-Addo who was sitting next to the Okuapehene, which action Mr. Ofosu Ampofo repeated when he was leaving the program.
It is therefore not true that Nana Akufo-Addo arrived late at the durbar grounds. His movement all the way to the durbar grounds until he took his seat by the right hand side of the Okuapehene was in strict adherence to instructions given him by the protocol officers of the Okuapeman Traditional Council.
We hope that this explanation clarifies the matters and brings an end to the false claim that Nana Akufo-Addo arrived late for the function.
Signed
Herbert Krapa
Press Aide to Nana Akufo-Addo
