Residents of Kyebi in the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area of the Eastern Region today, Monday embarked on a demonstration in protest of supposed abusive comments allegedly made by the Ashanti Regional Secretary of the National Democratic Congress, Kwame Zu, against the Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin.
The demonstrators were clad in red and thronged some principal streets in the Eastern Region demanding an apology from Kwame Zu.
Some of the placards they were holding had the inscriptions “Enough is enough”, “Okyenhene is our King, leave him alone”, “NDC Kyebi is extremely angry” among others.
Mr. Zu, last week, reportedly said that until the intervention of then-President John Mahama, the Okyenhene had to resort to sharing drinking water with animals.
Despite having apologized for the comments, the people are calling for his removal from office and render a public apology before the Okyenhene.
The group, Okyeman Youth for development accused the NDC of showing disrespect to the Okyehene and the people of Okyeman on various occasions.
According to a statement signed by Okyeman State Secretary, Dan Ofori Atta, the supposed ‘strategy’ of the NDC of insulting the Okyenhene and later come out to apologise will not suffice.
“Our attention has been drawn to derogative comments made by National Democratic Congress’s Ashanti Regional secretary (Kwame Zu) toward Okyeman and our beloved King (Okyenhene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin)…. The audio which is 32 seconds long is purported to rain heavy insults on us which we think should not be made to any human being; not to talk of a Ghanaian (a social democrat) making these comments towards a fellow Ghanaian.”
“…Some NDC’s practice of intentionally insulting Okyeman and later backtracking with apologies would no more be encouraged in our Traditional Area. To this end, we call on Kwame Zu (NDC Regional secretary -Ashanti) to publicly apologize to the Okyeman Traditional Council by coming to the ofori panin fie.”
Below is the full statement from the group
WE WILL NOT TOLERATE DISRESPECT AND ARROGANCE FROM NDC ANYMORE: OKYEMAN YOUTH FOR DEVELOPMENT
Our attention has been drawn to derogative comments made by National Democratic Congress’s Ashanti Regional secretary (Kwame Zu) toward Okyeman and our beloved King (Okyenhene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin).
The audio which is 32 seconds long is purported to rain heavy insults on us which we think should not be made to any human being; not to talk of a Ghanaian (a social democrat) making these comments towards a fellow Ghanaian.
We the Okyeman Youth for Development have taken this incident very serious this time because of prior incidents with other NDC faithful.
For instance, in 2016, the then Eastern Regional Minister (Mavis Ama Frimpong) canceled a planned visit to the Okyenhene’s palace at Kyebi following the ban of two National Democratic Congress (NDC) executives from entering the Ofori Panin Fie (palace).
The ban was inflicted on the Eastern Regional chairman (Bismarck Tawiah Boateng) and the youth organizer (Apau Haruna Owiredu) of the ruling NDC, by the Kyebi Executive Council for insulting and disrespecting the King of Akyem Abuakwa Kingdom, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, and his stool.
In addition, Jamal Konneh, a former NDC eastern Regional communication officer mounted a similar attack on Okyeman; notwithstanding Mugabe of Muntie Fm attacks on Okyeman and Okyenhene prior to 2016 elections.
Recounting prior incidents with NDC aspirants and their disrespect and arrogance to Okyeman, we the youth are sending a warning to the leadership of NDC to admonish their members to give due respect to Okyeman.
Some NDC’s practice of intentionally insulting Okyeman and later backtracking with apologies would no more be encouraged in our Traditional Area. To this end, we call on Kwame Zu (NDC Regional secretary -Ashanti) to publicly apologize to the Okyeman Traditional Council by coming to the ofori panin fie