Residents and chiefs of Akyem Abuakwa staged a protest today September 23, 2019, against the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) over comments made against Okyenhene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin.
The residents described the NDC's Ashanti Regional Secretary Kwame Zu's comments on the Okyenhene as “abusive and Provocativeâ€.
Mr. Zu while addressing participants of a demonstration by the Coalition for National Sovereignty last week said among other things that a water treatment project which was provided in the hometown of the current President, Kyebi, saved the Okyenhene from drinking from the same river animals drank from.
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However, Kwame Zu made a sharp U-turn and has since apologized for the comments.
Portions of his statement said: “I did make a statement to the effect that until potable water was provided for the Okyenhene and his people, they drank unwholesome water. The said statement was used in good faith and figuratively to underscore that the Okyenhene did not drink different water from his subjects, again flowing from the love he has for his people. After deeply reflecting over the said statement and the interpretation given it by a section of the public, which interpretation is plausible, I wholeheartedly regret for making that statement. I hereby wish to unreservedly render an unqualified apology to the Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council and indeed all Ghanaians for the said statement,â€
Read the full apology and clarification below.
STATEMENT OF APOLOGY TO THE OKYENHENE AND THE AKYEM ABUAKWA TRADITIONAL COUNCIL
It has come to my attention that a statement I made at a demonstration organised by the Coalition for National Sovereignty which was held in Kumasi on the 19th day of September 2019 has generated a furore.
While making a presentation at the said demonstration, I did point out to many ills of the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo led government that threatens our collective existence as a nation. In a very charged atmosphere, I did make a statement regarding the remarkable efforts made by President John Dramani Mahama to provide potable water for inhabitants of Kyebi and its surrounding areas some of whom hitherto were drinking unwholesome water.
Knowing that the Okyenhene just like most traditional rulers in Ghana have deep love for their people and at all times empathise with them, I did make a statement to the effect that until potable water was provided for the Okyenhene and his people, they drank unwholesome water.
The said statement was used in good faith and figuratively to underscore that the Okyenhene did not drink different water from his subjects, again flowing from the love he has for his people. After deeply reflecting over the said statement and the interpretation given it by a section of the public, which interpretation is plausible, I wholeheartedly regret for making that statement.
I hereby wish to unreservedly render an unqualified apology to the Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council and indeed all Ghanaians for the said statement. I revere and have always revered the chieftaincy institution in Ghana and for that matter hold the Okyenhene in high esteem and would not deliberately undermine the chiefly powers of the Okyenhene who has shown great leadership over the years.
Once again, my sincere apologies to the Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin and the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council and all Ghanaians for my statement.
Thank you and may God bless us all!
……Signed……..
KWAME ZU
ASHANTI REGIONAL SECRETARY, NDC
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