NPP Didn't Come For Juju – Tindaana

Baare Tindaana(with Stick) flanked by his subjects in front of his palace.

The traditional landlord (Tindaana) of Baare in the Talensi constituency of the Upper East Region, Tindaan Mayalik, has cleared the air over a publication that was carried in pro-NDC newspapers on Thursday, with the pictures of some bare-chested New Patriotic Party (NPP) delegation who paid a courtesy call on him at his palace on July 1, 2015.

One of the newspapers, according to the Tindaana, tried to create the impression that the NPP's parliamentary candidate, Thomas Duanab Wuni, and the Ashanti Regional chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako aka Wontumi, and other members of the party had come to him for juju rituals to enhance the party's chances in the Talensi by-election slated for Tuesday, July 7, 2015.

Interestingly, all the journalists who visited Tindaana were equally bare-chested, dismissing the NDC's wild propaganda.

'I am the custodian of the lands of Baare. Traditionally, any visitor that comes to Baare to do anything significant must seek my blessing; and so, it was not out of place for the NPP delegation to pay a courtesy call on me. They did not come here for spiritual fortification or juju as has mischievously and deliberately been painted. It is quite unfortunate that this well-intended visit has been twisted in this negative manner.Let me state that even if the President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, or the paramount chief of Talensi, Tongo-Raan Kugbil Song Namelteng, or any Ghanaian is coming to the Tindaana, he must take off his shirt and fold up his trousers to the knees before he will be allowed to see the Tindaana.

'This is a tradition our forefathers left for us and we must continue the tradition; and anyone who flaws this tradition will become either useless in society or will suddenly die,' Tindaan Mayalik maintained.

Before the Tindaana's interview, a group of youth called 'Youth For Tongo Tradition' held a press conference at the forecourt of the Tindaana's palace and questioned the loyalty of natives in the NDC.

The spokesperson, Joseph Singh, said the group was of the view that if the Talensi natives in the NDC had been sincere and loyal to their tradition, they would have educated their colleagues who are all over the media drawing conclusions that once the NPP delegation visited the Tindaana and were seen bare-chested, they had gone to perform juju rituals for spiritual fortification.

'According to the ministry of education, occultism is a criminal offence for which students have to be suspended or sacked and this is no mean an accusation for the national organiser of the NDC, Kofi Adams, to make against his political opponent, given the fact that he refused to respect our culture,' he said.

The youth said it was sad that because of politics, people in the NDC who know the truth, including the parliamentary candidate, B.T. Baba and the executives, had refused to tell the truth about the culture and tradition at the Baare Tindaana's palace.

'In conclusion, we the people of the Talensi constituency and Baare thank the NPP candidate, Thomas Duanab Wuni, and the Ashanti Regional chairman of the NPP, Antwi-Boasiako aka Wontumi, for respecting the Ghanaian culture on our Republic Day and wish them all the best…'

From Ebo Bruce-Quansah, Baare, Talensi