Apologise to Afede for 'insult' – House of Chiefs to Blay

The National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Freddie Blay, must apologise to the President of the National House of Chiefs, Togbe Afede XIV and the entire membership of the House over his insulting comments towards the President of the House, the National House of Chiefs, has said.

Mr Blay had described as “palm wine business talk”, a remark by the President of the National House of Chiefs that the 275 buses he (Blay) bought for the NPP ahead of its internal polls, smacked of corruption.

Togbe Afede’s comments were thus: “Let me say that the frequency of corruption at elections is worrying because that sequence itself suggests the lack of trust and lack of transparency. And I think that we all have to work hard to minimise the frequency of perceptions of corruption and corruption. Nananom should lead the fight and should talk for transparency.

“Some time ago, it was one party building a multi-million-dollar headquarters, we all sat down and did not complain. And recently, an aspiring chairman of a party buying several 275 vehicles.

“These are matters that should attract Nananom’s attention. And I’m very happy that at least the latest one has attracted the attention of the special prosecutor. Unfortunately, the canker has spread so deeply”.

However, an angry Freddie Blay described the traditional leader’s remarks as arrogant palm wine talk.

A statement issued by Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, Sefwianwiasohene and Chairman of the Governance and Development Committee of the National House of Chiefs on Friday, 13 July, said: “The National House of Chiefs has learnt about the insults and castigations of Mr Freddie Blay on the President of the House, His Royal Highness Togbe Afede XIV, and the entire membership of the House, and his description of a portion of the President’s address to the House as ‘palm wine business talk’. The House wishes to state categorically that what the President said when he addressed the House at its general meeting on 6 July 2018 was not inappropriate, and the intent and purpose was to caution against what has become a major stumbling block to development.

“The president’s statement that, ‘Some time ago it was one political party building a multi-million-dollar headquarters. We all sat down and did not complain. More recently, it is an aspiring chairman of a party buying 275 vehicles. These are matters that should attract Nananom’s attention. I am happy that at least the latest one has attracted the attention of the Special Prosecutor’, does not amount to a call for an investigation, let alone be a source of worry to an innocent person. The House, therefore, finds the insult disturbing.

“The House wishes to state without equivocation that the culture and traditions of this country, which Nananom are the custodians of, has never allowed any individual or group of individuals to be insulting towards the elderly. It is, therefore, surprised that Mr Freddie Blay descended on the House and attacked in the manner he did.

“The House is, therefore, calling on Mr Freddie Blay to render an unqualified apology to Togbe Afede XIV, and Nananom in general for the insults and the insulting behaviour he put up against Nananom. Also, the House wishes to advise all Ghanaians to promote civility and respect for one another.”