Former President John Dramani Mahama has denied the claim by the chiefs and traditional leaders of Upper Axim that he snubbed them during his tour of the campaign tour of the Western Region.
The traditional authorities had claimed in an interview with Takoradi-based Connect FM that the former President on Tuesday refused to attend a durbar held to purposely to welcome him to the area.
According to them, they were informed by the National Democratic Congress executives in the area that the Mahama would as part of his re-election campaign tour pay a courtesy call on them on January 8, 2019.
The chiefs and queenmothers of Upper Axim said they accordingly gathered in the town Tuesday morning at about 11 to welcome Mahama but he unfortunately did not show up at the grounds though the former President was in the area to address the chiefs and people of Lowe Axim.
They wondered whether they had in any way offended the former President and consequently asked that he tells them so they render the necessary apology.
But a statement from Mahama’s 2020 Campaign Team Thursday said the former President did not snub the traditional authorities whatsoever as they claimed in the media interview.
“…It is not correct that the former president refused to attend a durbar of chiefs held purposely to welcome him to the area,” the statement signed by Mahama’s spokesperson, Mr. Agyenim Boateng said.
It explained that Mahama’s itinerary for the five-day tour of the Western Region was drawn by the regional and constituency executives of the party in consultation with the campaign team, and that nowhere was it stated that he was scheduled to meet with the chiefs of Upper Axim.
“At no point was Mr Mahama scheduled to visit Upper Axim, at least not according to his official itinerary for the just-ended tour especially as there was no such scheduled visit to Upper Axim,” it said.
On the issue whether the traditional Authorities have offended Mahama, the statement said “the traditional authorities in Upper Axim have not in any way offended Mr Mahama”.
The campaign team has meanwhile thanked the regional and constituency executives of Western Region as well as delegates, members and supporters of the NDC “for showing up in their numbers to meet and interact with Mr Mahama”.
By Loveridge Ampratwum Okyere|3news.com|Ghana
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