Volta Bans Blay – Over Togbe Afede Insult

The Asogli Traditional Council has declared Freddie Wasemewu Blay, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) National Chairman as persona non grata in the Region.

The Traditional Council, comprising 33 traditional areas in the region insists they could not ensure Mr. Blay’s safety if he enters the region.

The NPP National Choirman’s appears to have incurred the wrath of the Volta Chiefs due to what the Council believes is his alleged failure to apologie after he reportedly insulted Togbe Afede XIV, President of the Asogli Traditional Council and the National House of Chiefs.

Blay Buses

Mr. Blay in the led up to the party’s National Delegates Conference in Koforidua recently was caught in a war of words with Togbe Afede XIV, following his purchase of vehicles for some constituencies just days to the conference.

Togbe Afede XIV said to have questioned the source of the funding for the 275 buses said to have been procured by the NPP chairman.

Addressing members of the House at its third General Meeting in Kumasi, Togbe Afede is quoted to have been happy because the Special Prosecutor is looking into it.

His comments follow a barrage of criticisms against Mr. Blay who had decided to fund the procurement of some 275 buses to be used for commercial activities and to raise funds for the constituencies.

“Some time ago it was one party building a multi-million headquarters. We all sat down and did not complain. More recently, some aspiring chairman of a party is buying 275 vehicles. These are matters that should attract Nananom’s attention. I am happy at least the latest one has attracted the attention of the Special Prosecutor,” he said.

Responding to the controversy about the funding of the buses, the former Ellembelle Member of Parliament said it is not unprecedented for individuals or groups to fund their Political Parties in cash or kind so he cannot understand why his decision has attracted so much controversy.

Mr. Blay is also widely quoted as having suggested that it was “foolish” for people to question the timing of the procurement of the buses most people described as “vote buses”.

Ban

Just when, it appeared the dust on the controversy had settled, the Council, at a News conference yesterday addressed by Togbe Koku Ayim V, Paramount Chief of Ziavi, described the conduct of Mr Blay as “gross misbehaviour,” stressing that the Council could not guarantee his safety in the region.

He said Mr Blay had “unfairly misjudged, unjustifiably employed misguided statements and intentionally insulted the integrity and personality of Togbe Afede,” though he married from the Traditional Council.

Togbe Ayim said the “insults are indirect attacks on chiefs of Eweland,” particularly when calls by recognised bodies for apology went unheeded.

The Council said it was not aware of any apology by Mr Blay to Togbe Afede and Asogli Chiefs in the media and that no such apology was in their records, saying, his working relationship with the Council had been “tainted”.

Meanwhile efforts to Reach Mr. Blay for comments failed as he was said to be in a board meeting as at the time of filling this report yesterday.

It is unclear whether the NPP National Chairman would succumb to the pressure of the Volta Chiefs and eat back his supposed “insults” to Togbe Afede XIV.

By: Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson