Legions of mainly Ga-Dangbes, thronged the Ga Mantse Palace at Kaneshie, Monday, to give a huge boost to the flagbearership aspirations of Former Trade and Industry Minister, Hon Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, when he paid a courtesy call on Dr. Nii Tackie Teiko Tauru II, the Ga Mantse.
With shouts of ‘Esh3 Alan 3no’, (it’s Alan’s turn), the huge crowd cheered every step of the Former Trade and Industry Minister and champion of the 1D1F initiative, as he made his way to the reception hall of the Palace.
Hon Kyeremanten and his entourage, including Nii Ayiquaye Otoo, former Attorney General and former Ghana High Commissioner to Canada, called on the Ga Mantse to among, others, announce his intention to run for the flagbearership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), when nominations open later in the year and eventually, become President of the country.
The visit was also to congratulate Nii Teiko Taurus ll on his ascension of the revered Ga Mantse stool and commiserate with him on the passing of the late Naa Dedei Omaedru lll, Queen Mother of the Ga state.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Nii Teiko Tauru ll, also President of the Ga Traditional Council, advised political parties against taking Ga Adangbes for granted by failing to fulfill promises made to them and appropriating their lands for personal benefit at the expense of the well-being of the indigenes.
He noted that the people will no longer look on unconcerned as their rights are trampled upon, and will punish any party that did not deal fairly with them at the polls.
“Accra is the pivot of election in Ghana. Accra is Ghana and Ghana is Accra. Don’t take us for granted”, the Ga Mantse admonished.
He added, “we are sad about how we are being treated on our own lands, without recourse to the traditional authority. We pray that when your bid is successful, you will think about (Ga) lands and support the traditional council”.
Hon. Kyerematen expressed his gratitude to the Ga Mantse and the Traditional Council for their continued support and pledged to deal fairly with issues of the traditional council should he be given the nod to be President.
“Nii M3, I know the symbol of the traditional council, just as that of our party, the NPP, is the elephant. This already shows that all Ga’s naturally belong to the NPP, there is therefore, a spiritual connectivity between our symbols. It is therefore, appropriate for me to honour the traditional council and pay heed to their concerns when elected,” Mr Kyerematen said.
He said, the role the Ga state played in bringing the NPP to power in 2016 must be appreciated and recognized appropriately, adding that “it is in our own interest as a party, to appreciate and honour the status of the Ga traditional council as it is the entry point into the country”.
