Akwatia chiefs turn serial callers – NPP MP

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Created on Saturday, 24 September 2011 00:00

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Akwatia chiefs turn serial callers – NPP MP

The Member of Parliament for Akwatia constituency in the Eastern Region, Dr. Kofi Asare, has taken a swipe at chiefs in Akwatia, calling them “serial callers”, whom he accused of doing the bidding of the government.

According to him, some chiefs in the area are engaged in active partisan politics which to the detriment of the people of Akwatia.

The MP made the allegation at the launch of NPP’s Ladies Club in the Akwatia constituency on Sunday that some chiefs in the area have turned themselves into serial callers and urged them to desist from the practice.

Speaking on Asempa fm’s Saturday current affairs programme, “kukurantumi”, Dr. Kofi Asare said if those chiefs want to be part of political discourse in the constituency, then they should vacate their stools and join politics.

The MP accused the chiefs of calling into a radio programme to defend the government when the Ghana Consolidated Diamonds Limited was re-opened.

He noted that Ghanaians respect their chiefs so such, and therefore cautioned those chiefs against indulging in acts that will denigrate the institution of chieftaincy.

“I am from a royal family so I respect chiefs but their behaviour is really condemnable,” he said.

According to the Akwatia MP, the constitution of Ghana debars chiefs from active partisan politics, and wondered how some chiefs in Akwatia would turn themselves into “serial callers”.

Even though the MP declined to mention names, he insisted that that his comments are justifiable, noting that some chiefs in the area even lauded him for exposing rot in some of the traditional authorities.

He said he is ever ready when “Nananom call me to justify my comment and I will honor it swiftly because it is becoming a nuisance”.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Akwatia Traditional Area, Osabarima Kwasi Boateng III described the MP’s statement as worrying.

According to him, no chief in the area will indulge such an act and therefore challenged the MP to expose chiefs involve in serial calling.

“I do not indulge in politics because the constitution frowns on it but if I am to share my thoughts on a specific issue or topic then I have no problem but active partisan politics, no way,” he noted.

Osabarima Boateng III stressed that he has never seen or heard any chief in the area calling into any radio programme, adding that if the MP can come out with names, he will be happy.

He stated that “due to insults being traded on the airwaves these days, I don’t even listen to radio with political discussions, let alone calling to contribute”.

When asked what the chiefs are doing about the issue, he said, “let’s all wait, may be the MP has seen some of the chiefs calling into radio programmes, so let’s wait for him to provide the names then we can take a decision”.

Source: Twum Barima/Asempa News/Ghana