More trouble for Atebubu MP

The woes of the Member of Parliament for Atebubu-Amantin, Sanja Nanja get compounded by each passing day; the latest group of persons to sever ties with the beleaguered MP is the Zongo residents in Atebubu.

The Concerned Citizens of Atebubu Zongo Association has warned the MP not to step foot in the area for any social event nor to campaign ahead of the November 2016 election.

According to Chairman of the Association, Mr Adams Abubakar, residents of Zongo respect the Atebubu Traditional Council and because the Council has banned Hon. Sanja Nanja, they have seized having any activities with him until the chiefs rescind their decision.

The Atebubu Traditional Council was the first to ban the MP from taking part in all social programmes in the area after he (MP) insulted the queenmother of the town Nana Afia Donyina, on radio calling her a drunkard after she accused him of being behind a recent disturbance in the area.

They were of the view that hon. Sanja Nanja had disrespected the Queenmother and Traditional Council by extension and as a result had to exact punishment against him.

The council further sacrificed a ram informing the gods of the town of the MPs disrespect to them, an act that was seen by many as a strong demonstration of the council anger.

A fortnight ago, another paramountcy in the area, Amantin Traditional Council led by the paramount Chief, Nana Owusu Ababio II, announced that he and his elders have also banned their legislator, who is finding ways of winning the hearts of his constituents after a first ban by the Atebubu Traditional Council.

The Chief said his decision to ban the MP was in solidarity with the Atebubu Traditional Council following the insults the Legislator recently heaped on the Queemother of Atebubu.

Nana Kofi Amoakohene, the Akwamu Hene of Amantim who spoke on behalf of the Paramount Chief of Amantin emphasized that they back any decision arrived at by the Atebubu Traditional Council on Mr. Sanja Nanja.

“In fact we were not happy when we heard the issue. We needed to come and verify if indeed what we heard being said about the queen mother was true. Once we now know the truth, we support any decision taken against the MP. Atebubu and Amantin form one district, so if you insult the Atebubu Chief you also insult Amantin Chief as well.”

Political watchers believe the frosty relationship that exist between the MP and his constituents, and the height of hostility will cost him his seat with seven months to the elections.

Meanwhile, the Queen mother of the Atebubu Traditional Area, Nana Afia Donyina has filed a lawsuit at the Wenchi High court against the Atebubu MP, Sanja Nanja for GHS 500,000 seeking damages for alleged defamation.

The charges stem from what has been described by the plaintiff as disparaging remarks made by Sanja Nanja on a local Radio Station Pink FM, and subsequently reproduced in various media, which the queen mother said has “provoked public disaffection against her and exposed her to public ridicule.”

The queen mother is also praying the court for an order of perpetual injunction to restrain the defendant from writing, printing and publishing further words or statements deemed to be defamatory, a statement signed by Secretary to the queen mother, Kofi Amofa said.