We Won't Vote….Bassa Community Cries

Bassaman hit the streets

THE CHIEFS and people of Bassa Traditional Area in the newly created Sene East district in the Brong Ahafo Region are calling on the President to bring the capital to Bassa instead of Kajaji or they will vote against government.

According to them, Kajaji is a resettlement town established on Bassa stool land per executive instrument 73 of 1974 and therefore cannot be made a district capital whiles Bassa falls under it.

Spokesperson for Bassa Traditional Area, Samuel Antwi mentioned this in a statement signed by the Omanhene of the area and President of the Bassa Traditional Council, Nana Owusu Sakyi and the Bassa Hemaa, Nana Agyeiwaa Mpamakyi when they hit the streets of Bassa in red and black to protest against government's decision.

He noted the siting of the capital of New Sene East district took them by surprise because the 1992 Constitution in its own wisdom has laid down criteria for the establishment of headquarters for governments or public institutions in an area within a region taking into account the resources and potentials of the area.

He continued that Kajaji has only two villages with a very small population whiles Bassa as a traditional area has six main towns which makes it eligible to be made a district capital.

Mr. Antwi therefore appealed to President Mills to as a matter of urgency review his decision and consider Bassa as the capital of the New Sene East district or they will not vote for the National Democratic Congress as they have been doing since 1998.

He opined that Kajaji is not qualified to be considered a district capital since it has absolutely no resources and potentials to make it eligible and fit to be made the district headquarters.

'Our ancestors and the present and future generation of Bassaman will never forgive us if we buckle under government pressure which can only be evidence of the government's prejudice towards us and the personal dislike for Bassaman,' he added.

  From Vivianna Mensah, Sunyani