Mamprusi Chiefs Call On Nana

THE Presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has called on the Mamprusi people of Bawku to do everything in their power to maintain the peace of the area.

Akufo-Addo made this call when he met with the elders of the Mamprusi people at his residence last Wednesday. The meeting was in fulfilment of a promise he made when he met with the Kusasi chiefs two weeks ago on the crisis in the Bawku area.

Stressing his neutrality in the Bawku conflict, Akufo-Addo explained that during the campaigns for the presidential candidacy of the party, he was dealing solely with party people and that was why he refrained from visiting any chiefs. He said further that if he interacted with any Mamprusi people at all, like the NPP chairman for the Bawku constituency, it was solely on the basis of the fact that he was the NPP chairman and not because he belonged to any faction in the Bawku conflict.

“I need your support to let the world know that I am not involved in inflaming passions in the Bawku area.” he said. “I am very much interested in the peace and development of Bawku as well as the development of every part of the country”.

He told the Mamprusi elders that to maintain a cordial relationship with the chieftaincy fraternity, he has set up a committee on religion and chieftaincy matters of which Hon. Felix Owusu Agyapong, MP for Akyem Swedru, is the chairman.

Addressing the elders, Hon. Owusu Agyapong called on them to respect the laws of the land and follow procedure in resolving any disagreements that they may have as far as chieftaincy matters were concerned.

Responding, the Mamprusi elders promised to educate the Mamprusi youth on the need to eschew violence as a means of resolving crisis in the area.

They expressed their gratitude to Akufo-Addo for the meeting, and said they will not do anything that would drag his name into their conflict, which according to them predates his involvement in Ghanaian politics.

Together with Akufo-Addo and Owusu Agyapong were Nich Adi-Dako, Director of Operations for his campaign; Anim Obiri, a Special Aide; and Mustapha Hamid, his Spokesperson.

The Mamprusi elders were made up of Ziblim Haruna, Alhaji Ibrahim Kobila, Alhaji Osman Gariba, Sarkin Zongo, Zakari Dramani, Danladi Zaaki, Michael Asigri, Adama Dramani and Majeed Amandi.

Others were Hajia Sala Bagri, Tahiru Kunbiima, a youth activist; Yakubu Bawah Gumah, a youth activist; Dayan Bawah Gumah, also a youth activist, and Mohammed Tahiru Nambe, the leader of the Mamprusi youth.

The rest were Alhaji Malik, the Bawku constituency chairman of the NPP; and Hajia Hawa Ninchema, the Upper East Regional Women Organizer of the NPP.