We Are Not Akpeteshie Boozers – Sefwis Cry Out

A renowned and outspoken traditional ruler in Sefwi has made it explicitly clear that Sefwi citizens should never even vote for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), which former President Jerry John Rawlings is campaigning for, because of his insolence, pride and disrespect for the people of Sefwi.

Nana Kwarteng Ababio, Nkosohene (Development Chief) of Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Council, stated that if the constitution does not allow chiefs to dabble in politics that does not give Flt Lt. Rawlings the licence to continuously rain insults on the people of Sefwi, anytime he sets foot on their land, adding, “enough is enough, we must let former President Rawlings know we are no aliens on our own land.”

The occasion was the launch of the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai Constituency political campaign of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at Sefwi-Bekwai, last Sunday, October 17, 2004, when Nana Ababio humbly sought permission from the organizers to articulate his views on the level of contempt and gross disrespect the former President accorded the people of Sefwi, anytime he visited Sefwi area.

Citing instances to buttress his point, amidst prolonged applause and shouts of “JJ ye too known, ommu nipa koraa”, Nana Ababio recounted that that on October 5, 2004, at an NDC rally in Sefwi-Bekwai, former President Rawlings told the Sefwi people that if the New Patriotic Party (NPP) gurus gave them money as a means of buying their votes, they should use them to buy delicious food, but not to use the money to drink Akpeteshie.

The Nkosohene explained that it was a great insult, and an indictment on the personality of the Sefwi people for former President Rawlings to brand them as drinkers of akpeteshie.

“I must be plain and blunt with Flt. Lt. Rawlings to go for his own portrait in 1979, and he would recognize that he was a number one consumer of akpeteshie, and should not take Sefwis indigenes for a ride, more so as akpeteshie consumers.”