Scramble for `small chops`

Invited guests to a cocktail party at the Ashanti Regional Residency last Friday, organised by the Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Council (ARCC) to mark the 52nd Anniversary of Ghana's independence, left the venue very disappointed.

The occasion was nearly marred, as some of the invitees, mostly gate-crashers, scrambled for the drinks, meat and khebabs served there.

Even though it was strictly by invitation, the organisers were compelled to contend with the gate-crashers, who invaded the ceremony, and had a field day literary jumping from table to table to taste almost every brand of drink, from wines through beer to soft drinks.

The ball was set rolling as the MC asked the invitees to help themselves to the assorted drinks, just as the new Regional Minister, Mr. Kofi Opoku Manu, had exchanged pleasantries with the invited dignitaries.

The drinks were interspersed with the serving of “small chops,” including groundnuts, meat and khebabs.

But, some of these gate crashers, who claimed their government was in power, would not wait to be served, as they rushed on those serving to do justice to the goodies without restraint, with some picking more than necessary, to the annoyance of party gurus.

“All they do is to position themselves, and be alert to pounce on any server who emerges from the kitchen carrying the meat on trays, and pick as much as possible,” said an irate invited guest.

On many instances the servers were compelled to drop their serving trays on the ground, in order to avoid being pounced upon by the seemingly famished gate-crashers in the stampede.

They as well claimed that they had not set foot on the premises of the Regional Co-ordinating Council and the residency during the last eight years, and therefore had no option than to make the most of the occasion, and enjoy themselves to the maximum.

The party was attended mostly by National Democratic Congress (NDC) executives, members and sympathisers, Ms. Enema Wilson, Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister-designate, Mrs. Joana Appiah Dwomo, former Deputy Regional Minister, former NDC DCE's and a cross section of the business community.

Conspicuously absent at the party were members of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), and members of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) who were duly invited.