The Sunyani Traditional Council has clarified its dissatisfaction with the appointment of governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) Brong Ahafo Regional Chairman, Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh as the Regional Minister.
Akwamuhene, Nana Kwaku Sarbeng II told Evans Mensah, host of Joy FM’s Newsnite programme Thursday that they are not opposed to the appointment, but that “we chiefs of Sunyani cannot work with him.”
“He can be the Regional Minister, but we will not give him our support and cooperation as expected of us,” he said.
The appointment of Mr Asomah-Cheremeh as the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was received with mixed reactions by residents in the region.
Whereas some residents poured onto the street to celebrate the announcement, some traditional leaders were not excited.
At a press conference Thursday addressed by the Sunyani Traditional Council’s Nana Obuaman Bofotia Boaponsem, he told the President to reconsider his nominee since it could not work with him.
The last action revives a 2016 feud in which the nominee took on the Council after the Paramount Chief, Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri declared support for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Presidential Candidate, John Mahama in October 2016.
Mr Asomah-Cheremeh held a press conference in which he said the chief “stooped to the lowest level to call on residents of the region to endorse the Presidency of Mahama.”
“What we find appalling and unbelievable is the fact that a 10-kilometre stretch of uncompleted road could induce a chief of his standing to promise 70 to 80 percent victory in the region for the President Mahama,” he said.
He was summoned to the palace of the Paramount Chief, but the Regional Minister nominee refused to go.
Considering Mr Asomah-Cheremeh’s treatment of the Paramount Chief, the Council said it would play no part in activities of the nominee.
Nana Kwaku Sabin II said that though they are not speaking for “all the people in Sunyani…we are speaking for the Traditional Council period.”
“Every government expects support from the Traditional Council so that the government can achieve its objectives and we are saying ‘this young man has shown utter disrespect to us,” he said.
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