Mahama snubs Elmina chiefs

Chiefs of Elmina in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) constituency of the Central Region were last Thursday disappointed and shocked when President John Dramani Mahama, who was expected to pay a courtesy call on them before addressing a rally, failed to turn up.

The chiefs, who were sporting their traditional cloths, later began to ask questions about why the KEEA Municipal Assembly and organizers did not give them prior notice regarding the change of programme.

Briefing DAILY GUIDE, one of the chiefs said they got the information from the assembly days ahead that the President would be visiting the area, therefore they should prepare to meet him at the Omanhene’s palace.

According to him, all the traditional chiefs under the Edina Traditional Council (ETC) met on Thursday morning around 9:00am in order to welcome President Mahama as custom demanded, before holding the rally.

The chief stated that early in the morning, the transport officer of the assembly came with a bus to transport them to the durbar grounds, but after some hours at the palace, the transport officer left the scene around 2:00pm to the rally grounds without informing the chiefs.

He noted that immediately the dispatch riders began to enter the town, they thought the President would come and greet them before he proceeded to the rally grounds, but that was not to be.

This, he stated, has affirmed speculations that the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has no respect for traditional rulers and priests.

The chief fumed: “This is a disgrace. If you (John Mahama) know you will not come why should you make us sit the whole day?

“Anywhere the President had visited in this country, he went to greet Chiefs in their palaces so why should he refuse to greet us here in the palace. Is it because he has no respect for us or he has a different agenda for us the people of Elmina? I cannot understand”.

Daily Guide investigations revealed that President Mahama refused to pay homage to the chiefs because there were speculations that the Chiefs of Elmina were sympathizers of the largest opposition party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP).