The National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Savannah Region has denied reports that the former President, John Dramani Mahama, was hooted at in Damongo when he attended the outdooring of the new Yagbonwura.
According to the group, the alleged booing was just the diabolic creation of a small group of people who were part of an “unruly and uncouth supporters of the NPP on the blind side of [former] President Mahama and his delegation, shouting and recording themselves”.
Contained in a statement, the Regional Communications Officer of the party explained the group has taken notice of a video circulated by a former NDC deputy General Secretary, Koku Anyidoho, on behalf of the Vice President, Bawumia-led faction of the NPP. It noted that the video and narration sought to create an impression that former President John Mahama was booed by his own tribesmen at the outdooring of the new Yagbonwura in Damongo on Tuesday.
Providing the facts of the matter, the group noted that as a royal and a native of the Gonja Kingdom, John Mahama attended the event as a son and grandson of the land. It explained that after all the protocols, paying homage to the new Yagbonwura with his delegation, he stepped forward to deliver his speech, which had nothing to do with politics but was “full of wisdom, history, and the great traditions” of the great Gonja Kingdom.
“He was welcomed with cheers and a loud applause as his brilliant speech touched the hearts and minds of his tribesmen, chiefs, and elders at the ceremony. There was absolutely no reason or cause for anyone whatsoever to hoot at President Mahama. The false narrative of being booed must be treated with contempt.”
Savannah Region NDC
NPP supporters behind booing of former President
The group highlighted that during the event, the small group of people who were apparently supporters of the NPP and who were jeering the former President, were in the process of detachment by the police and military personnel ensured that they remained where they were, without the people at the durbar hearing whatever they were saying.
It emphasized that these were NPP supporters bussed into Damongo by the NPP because of the “Vice President’s feeling of insecurity and nervousness”.
“A total of five buses transported these supporters from Tamale and Wa to cheer him. However, we wish to state in the strongest terms possible that the deliberate attempts by the NPP to always bus people from other regions into the Savannah Region just to cause confusion, disorder and mayhem at public functions will no longer be tolerated, and this will be the last caution.”
Savannah Region NDC
Setting the record straight, the group emphasized that H.E John Mahama remains the only President with an enviable record of projects in the entire Gonja kingdom from Senior High Schools (E Blocks at Daboya, Mpaha and Bamboi etc), Hospitals (Sawla, Buipe and Bamboi district hospitals etc), roads (147km Fufulso-Sawla road, Datoyili – Buipe road etc), factories(Buipe sheanut, Daboya smock, Savanah cement factories etc), water projects (Ntereso water project etc) among others.
For maximum satisfaction and the avoidance of doubt, the group cited two videos- one of the videos was of the arrival of former President Mahama at the durbar ground, and the other, the “beautiful speech delivered by the former President as he was cheered on by the good people of the Savannah region and all present”.
It will be recalled that former President Mahama congratulated Yagbonwura Amonebafe Borenyi I, the new King of Gonjaland.
He stated that he is proud that the time-tested traditions of Gonjaland, handed to the people by the Founder of Gonja, Ndewura Sumaila Jakpa. This, he noted, has once again worked seamlessly and peacefully installed the successor to our late overlord, HRM Yiram, Yagbonwura Sulemana Jakpa Tuntumba Boresa I.
