NPP MP insults Oguaa Omanhene

Outspoken NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa, Hon Paul Collins Appiah-Ofori, has doggedly refused to render any form of apology to chiefs and elders drawn from the Central Region.

The controversial MP was said to have gone bananas yesterday on AsempaFM, an Accra-based private radio station, when in a fit of rage he described the Omanhene of the Oguaa Traditional Area, Osabarima Kwesi Atta 11, as “Gyengyan”, a fante word which literally means “useless” or “worthless”, for failing to acknowledge the presence of Nana Akufo-Addo, NPP Presidential Candidate for the 2012 General Elections during the Fetu Afahye celebrations over the weekend.

“…hom (chiefs) ye enimguase fo; Cape Coast ahenfo ye ahenfo gyengyan” to wit “they (chiefs) are a disgrace to the (chieftaincy) institution; Chiefs in Cape Coast are a useless bunch,” the anti-corruption crusader allegedly said.

His comments seem to have incurred the displeasure of Chiefs in the area following reports that some of them have vowed not to grant the NPP Flagbearer access into their towns to campaign. They have also asked Hon. P.C. Appiah Ofori, to render an unqualified apology to them.

But in an interview with Kwami Sefa Kayi on PeaceFM’s flagship programme, “Kokrokoo” on Wednesday, September 8th, the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa MP emphatically that he has ‘no apology’ to render, because his comments were directed at only the Oguaa Omanhene and not all the chiefs in the Central Region.

“I have not said anything untoward against the chiefs. I was only referring to the Omanhene of Oguaa and not all the chiefs. I specifically stated said that the Omanhene is ‘Ohene gyengyan’…How can you invite someone to a function, who is seated directly opposite you, yet claim that you didn’t see the person and for that reason you failed to acknowledge his presence?…It was obvious they only invited Nana Addo to humiliate him, that was why I said he is ‘Ohene gyengyan’…

…We even sent him a protest note telling him of our presence and questioning why they are ignoring us…If he claims he didn’t see us, then he is lying, he’s not being truthful, Kwami…we need to be fair and let him know that the treatment meted out to Nana Addo is wrong…He acted wrongly, and should be told so in no uncertain terms….If, as an MP…forgetting my status and honorable position, i engage in stealing, and someone describes me as a thief, has that person erred?…There is no apology for me to render, I won’t render any apology,” Hon. P.C. Appiah stressed.

Source: Rebecca Quaye/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Institute of Journalism