The Volta caucus of the Minority in Parliament has called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to render an unqualified apology to the Paramount Chief of the Aflao Traditional Area, TorgbuiAdzongagaAmenyaFiti V, for his recent response to the traditional ruler.
The caucus said members would advise themselves if the President failed to retract and apologise to the traditional ruler.
Addressing a press conference in Parliament, yesterday, MP for the area, DzifaAblaGomashie, supported by other MPs from the region,called on the President to retract or face their wrath.
“The President’s conduct, which we do not see him exhibit against chiefs from other parts of the country, is a total affront to the entire Volta Region and the Aflao Traditional Area in particular.
“We demand a retraction and apology from the President. A united Ghana with a common destiny is undermined by such reckless and discriminatory conduct of the President,” she demanded.
MsGomashie said the demand by the paramount chief for a fair access to education for his people deserved praises from the President and not condemnation.
She said “TorgbuiFiti V deserves praise for prioritizing education and speaking against the culture of abandoning inherited projects. He does not deserve such disrespect from the President of the republic. As a citizens and a bonfide tax payer, that was not too much to ask for.”
Meanwhile, MsGomashieannounced a fund raising to mobilisefunds for the completion of the project.
She, therefore,called on the people of Aflaoin particular and Ghanaians in general to supportthe initiative,so that the project could be completed for use from the next academic year.
The MP for North Tongu, Samuel OkudzetoAblakwa, “We consider this to be an attack on the chieftaincy institution and expect the National House of Chiefs to take a serious view on this matter because going forward, chiefs will continue to be partners in development, speak on behalf of their people as custodians of our tradition and heritage. We cannot expect this kind of responses from presidents,” he said.
Mr Ablakwa saidTorgbuiFiti V in an interaction with the Minority lawmakers on the Education Committee of Parliament, last week, complained of the slow pace of work on the Community Day Senior High School (SHS) in the area.
According to the chief, the lack of a SHS in the area was inhibiting the potential of students and truncating their academic progression, pushing them into crime.
“Take the message to the Minister of Education that come February, I want that school opened so that my people can also have SHS education,” he demanded.
However, President Akufo-Addo in an interview on Accra based Peace FM as part of his tour of the Greater Accra region last Friday, said the Chief could go ahead and complete the facility if he was frustrated.
BY JULIUS YAO PETETSI
