Sunyani chiefs ‘forgive’ Brong Ahafo regional minister-designate

Brong Ahafo Regional Minister-designate, Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh and the Sunyani Traditional Council have settled their differences, which put the Council and the New Patriotic Party on a collision course prior to last year’s general elections.

Mr Asomah-Cheremeh, who is the Regional Chairman of the NPP condemned the Paramount Chief of the Council, Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri, when he declared support for former President John Mahama in the 2016 presidential elections Nana Nkrawiri projected an overwhelming victory of between 70 and 80 per cent for then President Mahama; something that Mr Asoma-Cheremeh found unbecoming of a chief and described it as unacceptable and the breach of the constitution.

He said the chief “stooped to the lowest level to call on residents of the region to endorse the Presidency of Mahama.What we find appalling and unbelievable is the fact that a 10-kilometre stretch of uncompleted road could induce a chief of his standing to promise 70 to 80 percent victory in the region for the President.”

Mr Asoma-Cheremeh’s comments angered the chief and the Traditional Council who summoned him to explain his comments but he refused on grounds that the Council lacked legal authority to summon him. Upon his nomination as the regional minister by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo , the chiefs requested that he be changed on grounds that they cannot work with Mr Asoma-Cheremeh.

But statement issued by the aide to the regional minister-designate Wednesday said the Council and Mr Asoma-Cheremeh have buried their differences “Yesterday,14th February, 2017, the Valentine day, at around 5:30pm at the Missions House of the Roman Catholic Cathedral, Sunyani, the Nananom have wholeheartedly forgotten and buried whatever happened between them and the New Patriotic Party before, during and after the 2016 General Elections,” the statement said.

The statement quoted Mr Asom-Chereme as having declared that “there is absolutely nothing evil” between the NPP and the chiefs of the Traditional Council.

“The two parties finally agreed to work in unity, in peace and live as one family both in Sunyani and outside Sunyani,” it said and urged the public to ensure that peace prevail in the region.