The Eastern regional branch of ruling National Democratic Congress has described as discriminately the decision by the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council to ban some executives of the party from the palace of the Okyehene.
According to the traditional council, the regional chairman of the NDC Bismarck Tawiah Boateng and the regional Youth Organiser Apau Haruna Owiredu have made disparaging comments about the Okyehene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin.
The Council has subsequently urged the Eastern regional minister who is billed to visit the palace not to come along with the banned executives.
But in a statement, the regional branch of the party said the move by the palace is “unfatherly” and bias.
“This we find very discriminatory since other political parties have unrestricted access to the Akyem Abuakwahene and his palace.
“We find such a conduct "unfatherly" on the part of the Akyem Abuakwahene considering the fact that, he is the President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs,” portions of the statement said.
Below are details of the statement by the NDC
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS
EASTERN REGIONAL SECRETARIAT
Ban of two NDC Regional Officers Partisan and Discriminatory
The Eastern Regional Executive Committee of the ruling National Democratic Congress is surprised of a decision by the Akyem Abuakwahene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panyin II and his traditional council to ban two of our Regional Officers in the persons of Messrs Bismark Tawiah Boateng and Haruna Apaw Wiredu from stepping foot in the Ofori Panyin fie (palace).
We find the decision as unfortunate and vague since no instance of such "gross disrespect" leading to this decision was given.
It is worth mentioning that once the Akyem Abuakwahene or any other person makes any statement or expresses his opinion that obviously has political undertones, we in the NDC as a political party have our God given right to respond appropriately in a respectful manner and that is exactly what we have always sought to do.
This matter has become worth discussing because it is becoming too popular of the Akyem Abuakwahene.
This is the third (3rd) time the Akyem Abuakwahene has refused NDC party Officers into his palace.
The first instance was during the era of Ambassador Victor E. Smith as Eastern Regional Minister when the Akyem Abuakwahene verbally told the former not to come to the Ofori Panyin palace with NDC party officers.
As if that was not enough, the Abuakwahene again verbally cautioned Hon. Helen Adwoa Ntoso as the Eastern Regional Minister not to step foot in his palace in the company of NDC party officials.
The latest of this discriminatory act is the letter the Akyem Abuakwahene and his traditional council wrote to the current Regional Minister, Hon. Mavis Ama Frimpong which was leaked to the Daily Guide cautioning her not to come to the Ofori Panyin palace in the company of Messrs Bismark Tawiah Boateng and Haruna Apaw Wiredu, the Regional Chairman and Regional Youth Organizer of our party respectively.
This we find very discriminatory since other political parties have unrestricted access to the Akyem Abuakwahene and his palace.
We find such a conduct "unfatherly" on the part of the Akyem Abuakwahene considering the fact that, he is the President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs.
This act of his is sending a very wrong signal to the other ten (10) paramountcies in the region that they could also discriminate as to which political party they should welcome and engage.
This development is obviously not healthy for our democracy and coexistence.
The NDC as a political party in the Eastern Region respects the chieftancy institution in the region and has a very cordial relationship with all the paramountcies, a situation which has led to spurring monumental developments in the region of which Osagyefo is a witness to.
We are by this release, calling on the Akyem Abuakwahene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panyin II to rescind this decision of his and treat all subjects and political parties equally.
The National Democratic Congress will continue to constructively engage all shades of opinion in the region on matters of national development.
Long Live Ghana! Long Live the Eastern Region!! Long Live President John Dramani Mahama!!!
Signed
Kevor Mark-Oliver
Eastern Regional Secretary, NDC
