The Kintampohene Nana Effah Gyakuo has vehemently denied claims that he is a card-bearing member of the opposition National Democratic Congress following criticisms over his exposé on what might have caused Sunday’s fatal incident at the Kintampo Waterfalls.
In an interview with Onua FM’s morning show ‘Yen Nsem Pa’ Tuesday, the chief however admitted, “Yes, I am a sympathizer of the National Democratic Congress but not a card bearer”.
Nana Effah Gyakuo had alleged after the Kintampo Waterfalls disaster that claimed 19 lives in Brong Ahafo region that the fatalities could partly be blamed on actions of the Invisible Forces, a vigilante group aligned to the governing NPP. He was reported saying qualified tour guides at the waterfalls were sacked by the Invisible Forces who were manning the place without any safety experience, which he believes contributed to the accident that claimed the lives of 15 students of Wenchi Senior High School and three others from University of Energy and Natural Resources.
His revelation did not go down with supporters of the New Patriotic Party and some members of the public who accused the Kintampohene of being a member of the NDC and benefiting from the Kintampo Waterfalls under the erstwhile NDC-led administration.
But Nana Effah Gyakuo told Onua FM he was a cadre of the NDC before assuming the status as a traditional head and has since ceased to participate in any partisan political activity. He maintained that although he has enjoyed several visitations from the founder of the NDC and former President Jerry John Rawlings to his Palace, it never crossed his mind to register and become an active member of the NDC.
“Hahaha, I am not surprised about this question, the media will not stop amazing me. I am a member of the NDC? This issue involving lives of innocent children and we are talking about politics? I am not a member of the NDC, I am only a sympathizer, I have been cadre for long time and even Rawlings used to visit me in my Palace, but I don’t have a party card showing I am a member of the NDC,” these were Nana Effah Gyakuo’s reply when the host of the show Bright Kwesi Asempa asked him if he is a member of the NDC.
The Kintampohene maintained that for 20 years as the chief of the area, he has not demonstrated any biased towards any political party because he sees himself as a father to all. “All political party leaders visit me. Even Ex-President Kufuor visited me, so why should someone think I belong to the NDC,” he asserted.
He demanded that his accusers confirm or deny the fact he has put out that the tourist site was taken over by the NPP’s Invisible Forces.
“I am custodian of the waterfalls and the lands around there but the site was given to the Assembly to manage, and we have reported the activities of the Assembly and the District Police Commander, so if nothing is done, what can the Nananom do?” he wondered.
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