Unacceptable Insult – Mr Chairman Please Apologise To Ghana And Togbe

We the ordinary people of Ghana, who passionately believe in respect for TraditionalAuthority demandthat Mr Freddie Blay unconditionally apologise both for his use of the “Foolish” word itself, and any offence understandably caused to the National House of Chiefs(NHOC) in general and the President of the National House of Chiefs in particular. The NHOC is the representative body of all the Chiefs in Ghana and to use the word “Foolish”in your response to the purchase of 275 Buses was vile, presumptuous and repugnant to the mild conscience of Ghanaians.

GHANA AND TOGBE AFEDE X1V DEMANDS AN UNCONDITIONAL APOLOGY

INTRODUCTION
I write in my personal capacity as a Ghanaian patriot who has always championed the cause of my country both home and abroad. I am fiercely proud of my little “poor country” its culture, values,traditions and current democratic system of governance.

Currently our country is being governed by the New Patriotic Party(NPP). The NPP was duly elected by adult franchise and our current President has instructed his country folks not to be just mere spectators cheering the team but active participants helping to kick the ball.

Of course, the President alone cannot fulfil the manifesto promises of his party, he needs all hands on deck including party stalwarts led by a Party Chairman.

BRIEF BACKGROUND
I congratulate Honourable Freddie Blay for overcoming the challenge of HonourableStephen Ntim to become the duly elected and certified Chairman of the NPP. Well Done Chairman.

In the same vein, Togbe Afede X1V, Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, Member of the Council of State and President of the National House of Chiefs was duly elected by members of the National House of Chiefs representing all the traditionalChiefs in our country in a hotly fought contest. Both the President of the National House of Chiefs and the Chairman of the ruling party have important roles to play, in ensuring that our body politic and social fabric of our society does not crack.

Of course, they represent different sections of our society and must be seen to represent the interest of their constituencies. In the case of Mr Freddie Blay his mandate is to ensure that the ruling NPP party remains in power and is duly re- elected in 2020.

In the case of the President of the National House of Chiefs his primary mandate is to represent the interest of all the traditional rulers and their subjects in the country. It goes without saying that the role of the President of the National House of Chiefs is inclusive and the role of a Party Chairman is “tribal” and exclusive.

The 275 BUSES SAGA- Simple Facts
It is a fact that,Mr Freddie Blay bought 275 cars to be distributed among the 275NPP Constituency offices spread across the country. It is also a fact that Mr Freddie Blay doubles up as the Board Chairman of the GhanaNational PetroleumCouncil (a public entity owned by all of Ghanaians).

It is also a fact that, his opponent Stephen Ntim representing almost 40% of the NPP delegates questioned the timing of the purchase of the vehicles in relation to vote buying.

It is also a fact that many ordinary “foolish Ghanaians” to quote Honourable Freddie Blay who trooped in their thousands, to stand in the scorching heat to vote for the NPP also questioned the timing of the purchase.

It is also a fact that Togbe Afede X1V as the elected leader of the National House of Chiefs has every right to represent the collective views of the traditionalauthorities the same way that Mr Freddie Blay has the right to purchase 275 cars (with his hard earned money) for the NPP party in his capacity as Chairman

WHAT DID TOGBE SAY IN RELATION TO THE 275 VEHICLES

I QUOTE“Sometime ago it was one party building a multi- million-dollar headquarters. We (NANANOM) all sat down and did not complain. And more recently some aspiring Chairman of a party buying several 275 vehicles. These are matters that should attract NANANOM’S attention and I am very happy that at least the latest one has attracted the attention of the Special Prosecutor.”

WHAT HAS BEEN THE RESPONSE OF MR FREDDIE BLAY?

I QUOTE “Togbe was wrong to suggest that the buses portray a perception of vote buying. Maybe he doesn’t know what he is talking about”. He went on to state “It’s foolish to question the timing of my bus purchase. Furthermore“maybe Togbe Afede X1V got his money from selling palm wine to become a big business man in Ghana”.

By the way Mr Freddie Blay there is no shame in selling palm wine for a living. Many decent, honest, humble, God- Fearing citizens of our land have sold palm wine to educate their children and for your information poverty is and will never be a shame in Africa.

DISTORTION OF FACTS BY MR FREDDIE BLAY

I sincerely hope and pray that the Chairman’s insult, his ill – informed, wrong,and pathetic use of language does not in any way reflect the views of the NPP Party. The “foolish” word should never have been used in response to avalid, measured, constructive criticisms from ordinary voters and more sothe President of the National House of Chiefs.

Mr Freddie Blay clearly distorted the speech of thePresident of the National House of Chiefs and by implication used the “Foolish” word on all members of the National House of Chiefs who duly elected the President.

I do want to believe that it was a slip of tongue by Mr Freddie Blay in using the “Foolish” wordto describe any one questioning his financial ability to purchase 275 vehicles and to denigrate palm wine sellers.

Moreover, I do not want to believe that the current success of Freddie Blay in the political world, his metamorphosis from CPP to NPP and his acceptance of the party delegates by voting him onto the Chairmanship position has not changed him as a person. Hmmmmm.

APOLOGY
We the ordinary people of Ghana, who passionately respect traditional authority and all of our elder’s demand that Mr Freddie Blay unconditionally apologise both for his use of the “F” word itself, and any offence understandably caused to the President of the National House of Chiefs. The “F” word used was vile, presumptious and repugnant to the mild conscience of Ghanaians.

I pray to our Almighty God and hope that Mr Freddie Blay in his current position do not thinkthat he is above reproach and untouchable. That he can ride rough shod over the poor electorate and palm wine sellers in the country and that he owes the President of the National House of Chiefs no apology.

CONCLUSION
I am not questioning his purchase of the 275 buses, that will be left to posterity and future generations to judge. I am always comforted by the fact that there are two constant scientific truths about all human species.

First, no position is permanent. Second, and much more important - one fine glorious day the powerful, powerless, palm wine sellers andthe wretched of the earth will all walk the same lonesome journey.

One may ask, if he does not issue an apology to the President of the National House of Chiefs what will you do Appiah - Danquah Kufuor? I cannot speak for Togbe Afede X1V, or the good people of Ghana neither am I a spokesperson for the National House of Chiefs nor all the civic organisations that feel insulted by the use of the word “Foolish”.

For my part, I have a nice picture of myself, Ex-President Kufuor and Mr. Freddie Blay hanging on the wall in my residence at Cheshire, United Kingdom. It was taken at the residence of President Kufuor when he won the 2004 elections. Mr Blay had come to congratulate President Kufuor on his victory and I had to serve him and other party members drinks and water. I took the opportunity to snap a picture with him and the old man. It is still hanging on my wall as I write but for how long?

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