Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II Kwahuhene
In its attempt to basterdise the ongoing voters’ registration exercise through every available means, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has incurred the wrath of the Kwahu Traditional Council in the Eastern Region.
The Kwahuhene, Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II, and his council have therefore banned the opposition party from campaigning in Kwahu Traditional Area for disrespecting their authority.
The Kwahu Overlord has further ordered the closure of two pro-NDC radio stations in the area, belonging to a former Eastern Regional Secretary of the NDC, Mark Oliver Kevor.
The decision of the Kwahu Traditional Council comes after members of the NDC reportedly visited Trado River, a river in the area, to invoke curses on the Electoral Commission (EC) and members of the governing New Patriotic Party, contrary to customary practices of the area.
They had accused the NPP of importing people from other places to register in the ongoing voters registration exercise, especially the Afram Plains area.
The “uncultured behavior” was led by the Regional Communications Officer of the NDC, Dallas Williams; a Deputy Regional Youth Organiser, Sidi Bello; a former Youth Organiser, Daniel Aboagye; and Oliver Kevor.
Disobedience
Appalled by “the barbaric acts” of the opposition party, the Kwahu Traditional Council summoned leaders of the NDC who carried out act to appear before them, and to go through the traditional rituals of reversing the curse.
However, the NDC members disregarded the calls by the respected chiefs. Rather, to their dismay, Oliver Kevor went on his radio stations, Okwahu FM and Afram FM, to allegedly rain insult on the chiefs, describing them as “being hypocrites”.
Reversal of curse and ban
At a traditional council meeting, yesterday, however, the chiefs visited the river side to perform rituals to reverse the curse, carrying sheep, schnapps, charcoal, pepper, among other ingredients. The Kwahu Akyeamehene, Nana Akuoko Boateng, slaughtered the sheep, and used the other items at the “Bosam Boho” to purify the river.
After the rituals, the Traditional Council went ahead to ban the NDC from carrying out all their activities in the area. Nana Akouko Boateng stated that the Kwahu Traditional Council considers the action of the NDC as an affront to their culture and beliefs.
“We take a strong view of his conduct; you (Mark Oliver Kevor) were summoned before the Traditional Council, but you refused to show up. You then go and sit on your radio stations, which are located on Kwahu land, and run us down. We order that the two stations belonging to Kevor, Okwahu FM and Afram FM, be closed by 12:00pm today (yesterday). If the stations continue to operate beyond the stipulated time, we’ll advise ourselves.
“Again, we’ve realised that the NDC party within the Kwahu land does not respect the traditional authority. Consequently, we’ve banned NDC from any party activities in this area. We don’t want to see any NDC flag, poster in the territorial area of Kwahu,” the Traditional Council stated.
Denial
Meanwhile, the NPP has denied the allegations leveled against it by the opposition party.
The Regional Secretary of the governing party, Jeff Konadu Addo, speaking with Nkawkaw based Agoo FM, said: “I don’t understand the NDC with this postulation. This is NPP’s stronghold, Nkawkaw, Abetifi and Mpraeso. When elections are held, our margins are quite large so why would we want to bus people from one constituency to another? To achieve what?”
“So, I really don’t understand them, but I want to say this and send a strong plea to the chiefs and people of Kwahuman that we cannot accept these things, and, as a matter of urgency, they should summon these people to Kwahuhene Daasebre’s palace and let them answer the reasons why they have to invoke these curses in politics.
“If the NDC people in Kwahu do not respect the directive of Kwahuman, why should they be sitting here? They will not be able to go to Kwahu chiefs and have any meaningful discussion with them because they have not shown them any respect,” he added.
