Failed Akufo-Addo can’t force Chiefs to stand and greet him – Malik Basintale

The Deputy National Communication Officer of the opposition NDC, Malik Basintale has taken a swipe at President Nana Akufo-Addo over what he describes as acting rude toward the overlord of Gonja, Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I.

Akufo-Addo, on Sunday April 28, is reported to have attended an event in Damongo and asked that the overlord of Gonja to rise from his skin before exchanging pleasantries with him.

According to reports, Akufo-Addo was invited to the one year Anniversary of the Yagbonwura in Damongo which also had coincided with the annual congress of the Gonjaland Youth Association and the Guan Congress.

When the President arrived and was taken round to exchange pleasantries with the chiefs, his body guard signaled the Yagbonwura to rise and shake hands with Akufo-Addo.

The King refused despite a call from the Savanna Regional Chairman of the NPP, Mr Kalamonia.

The incident angered the youth and the subchiefs of Gonja who murmured among themselves.

However, reacting to the issue on Dwaboase programme on Power FM, Malik Basintale who is a Gonja man did not take the issue lightly.

The NDC spokesman condemned Akufo-Addo’s act and labeled him as arrogant.

He argued that every chief deserved a respect from the President despite their location in the country.

To him, “a president like Akufo-Addo who has failed on his mandate has no authority to demand that chiefs rise up to shake hands with him.”

Basintale suggested that to get Akufo-Addo or the NPP to apologise for the gross disrespect toward the Gonjaland, the Yagbonwura must ban all political activities of the governing party in the area.