Mahama snubs Dunkwa Chiefs

President John Dramani Mahama on Monday apparently snubbed the chiefs at Jukwa in the Hemang-Lower-Denkyira District of the Central Region when he refused to pay a courtesy call on them as part of his two-day regional campaign tour.

The president, according to information, had earlier sent a message to the traditional council that he would pay a courtesy call on them at about 11am before a rally in the area.

According to sources, as early as 10am, the chiefs, including the paramount queen mother of Denkyira, Nana Ayensua Saara, were seated waiting for President Mahama, only to be told that he would come to them around 6pm.

DAILY GUIDE gathered that the chiefs had no other option than to wait for him.

There was reported disappointment when information reached the traditional rulers at about 11pm that the president had arrived in town and was addressing a rally without paying the courtesy call on them.

The sources hinted that the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, Mr Francis Korankye Sekyi, later led a delegation to present two bottles of Schnapps and envelop (suspected to be containing some amount of money) to the chiefs and apologized for the president’s inability to meet them as he had other engagements with the chiefs and people of Twi-Atti- Morkwa.

This paper learned that the chiefs, who were very angry, rejected the drinks and the envelop.

In another development, President Mahama on Monday commissioned two main projects – Elmina Fish Processing Factory and the Elmina bridge projects – at Elmina in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem (KEEA) municipality of the Central Region.

Commissioning the Fish Processing Factory, President Mahama said the project was started by the late President Prof John Evans Atta Mills.

“I promised to fulfill all projects initiated by late Prof Mills hence, the need to fulfill that promise to the people of Elmina and I hope Elmina will soon be a centre of fish processing and fish markets.”

He promised to construct fish landing site and fishing harbour for them when given the mandate again in the upcoming election.

The fish processing factory comprises processing facility, packing plant, cold rooms and a fish market.

Commissioning the Elmina Bridge, President Mahama hinted that the project, which was started about two years ago, was funded by the government of Ghana.

The paramount chief of Elmina Traditional Council, Nana Kojo Conduah, thanked the president for the projects.

Meanwhile, President Mahama is expected to commission the Kotokuraba Market in Cape Coast.