Minister cancels visit following ban on NDC officers
A planned courtesy call by the Eastern Regional Minister, Miss Mavis Ama Frimpong, on the Abuakwa Traditional Council was yesterday called off due to the seeming conflict between the council and two regional officers of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
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The regional minister was billed to pay a courtesy call on the Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panyin II, yesterday to formally introduce herself as the newly appointed Eastern Regional Minister.
But information gathered by the Daily Graphic indicated that the visit had been cancelled to let tempers calm down for the issue to be resolved.
The decision was also seen as a move to curtail any banter that would further deepen the feud between the Okyenhene and the Eastern Region NDC.
The Okyeman Council banned two NDC officers in the region for allegedly insulting and dragging the name of the paramount chief in the mud.
A statement signed by the council's spokesperson, D.M Ofori Atta, said Bismark Tawiah Boateng and Apau-Wiredu Haruna, regional chairman and regional youth organiser respectively, had been banned from the chief’s palace indefinitely.
However, the Chief of Staff to the Okyenhene, Nana Yentumi, explained that the regional minister was told to postpone the visit to next week when the full members of the traditional council would meet to deliberate on issues affecting the area.
Impasse
The differences arose following the decision of the Kyebi Executive Council, a committee under the Abuakwa Traditional Council, declared Mr Tawiah Boateng and Mr Apau-Owiredu unwanted in the Ofori Panyin Palace following a meeting by the executive council.
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The two were alleged to have made disparaging remarks against the Okyenhene on several occasions prompting the decision at a meeting chaired by the Abontedomhene and leader of the Executive Council, Osabarima Kyeretwie Boakye - Danquah.
The decision was copied to the Eastern Regional Minister, Miss Mavis Ama Frimpong.
NDC's reaction
However, the NDC in the Eastern Region expressed surprise at the decision to ban two of its regional executive members from entering the palace and, therefore, urged the Abuakwa Traditional Council to rescind its decision.
A statement signed by the regional secretary, Mr Mark - Oliver Kevor, said as a political party in the Eastern Region, it respected the chieftaincy institution and had a very cordial relationship with all paramountcies.