The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Savannah region has in a press conference on Tuesday 14th May 2024 vowed to resist any attempt by the vice president of the Republic of Ghana H.E Dr Mahamoud Bawumia to disrespect the Gonja Kingdom as he visits the Savannah Region as part of his campaign tour.
The Savannah regional secretary for the NDC Mr Salisu Bi-Awurbe addressing the media at the party’s regional office in Damongo said plans by the NPP’s presidential candidate, Dr Bawumia to hand over what they described as a “shoddy renovation work” at the Jakpa palace is one of the gross disrespects that the NPP as a political party has exhibited to the Gonja Kingdom.
The NDC added that the Jakpa Palace is not just a single structure and that “what Dr Bawumia repainted and swept is not the Jakpa palace” but rather a structure within the Jakpa Palace that sits on 15-acre of land, comprising many buildings and structures. The Jakpa Palace was built in 1942–1943, after its relocation to Damongo, the present capital of the Gonja Kingdom from its original location in Nyange, the ancient traditional capital of Gonja, approximately 5 kilometres from Sawla in the present Sawla Tuna Kalba District of the Savannah Region along the Damongo-Sawla Highway.
“Dear Members of the Press, It’s important to note that District Assemblies of Gonjaland originally initiated the construction of the allegedly renovated structure in the year 2000, which Dr Bawumia is purportedly coming to commission and potentially unveil a plaque with an inscription reading “Renovated by H.E. Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, NPP Flagbearer, and commissioned this 15th day of May 2024 in the Presence of Yagbongwura Bikunuto Mbemah Soale Jewu (I) and that it is important to note that the only King to have occupied that building Dr Bawumia renovated was the late Jirah Yagbongwura Tuntumba Abukari Amanfo Jakpa Sulemana” the press read.
Salisu Bi-Awurbe added that the gross disrespect by the NPP is getting out of hand and that they as democrats and sons of the land will resit it this time.
“As you are all aware, just under two weeks ago, the mentor of Dr Bawumia, Nana Akuffo Addo, attended the 1st Anniversary of the King and Overlord of Gonjaland, coinciding with the Annual Gonjaland Youth Congress and Guan Conference in Damongo. Despite being late to the event, Nana Akuffo Addo approached the King, Jirah Yagbongwura Bikunuto Mbemah Soale Jewu I, who was sitting in state, and disrespectfully demanded that the King stand up and greet him. Unsurprisingly, the King declined, signalling his disdain for the disrespectful request.
Nana Addo’s response to the King’s refusal was indicative of his displeasure. In a display of habitual anger and open arrogance, the president abruptly left the event, offering a flimsy excuse about needing to catch up with his helicopter, which he purportedly brought to Damongo. This blatant disregard for protocol and decorum is utterly disrespectful” he said.
Meanwhile, the party has stated on several occasions they say Npp as the party has portrayed their disrespectful behaviour, characterized by open arrogance, towards the Gonja state and its kings, deceiving the late Yagbongwura Tuntumba Boressa Jakpa Sulemana in April 2020, promising that within eight months, piped water from the Yapei River would flow from the King’s taps in Damongo, Dr Bawumia’s turn to disrespect the Gonja state and its king. Dr Bawumia visited Yagbongwura and convened a meeting with the Savannah Region House of Chiefs after they were sworn in as members of the Regional House of Chiefs, informing them that they would commence the immediate construction of the Savannah Regional House of Chiefs Complex, promising an 18-month completion time and in less than 10 minutes after the chiefs left the site, they swiftly removed a proposed sketched drawing, mounted on plywood for the occasion, and it remained hidden until the 155 Regiment took over the site and now, Dr Bawumia is on the verge of disrespecting and dishonouring the Yagbongwura once more by falsely asserting that he renovated the Jakpa Palace, when in fact, he only supervised the painting of the 2nd Palace Structure.
Meanwhile, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama is constructing an iconic new building to house the King according to the release.
“Allow me to reiterate, ladies and gentlemen of the press, that His Excellency John Dramani Mahama has ceremoniously broken ground for the construction of a magnificent new palace, intended to serve as the residence of the Gonja King and symbolize the rich cultural heritage of the Gonja state. Sahelian architecture guides the design of this ambitious project, reflecting the Gonja people’s origins in the Mande region near Mali.
The regional secretary therefore urged Dr Bawumia to refrain from wasting the taxpayer’s money by abstaining from another instance of disrespect towards the King of Gonjaland and the Gonja state under the guise of commissioning the repainted Jakpa Palace and further implore all Gonjalanders and all conscientious Ghanaians to unite with them in condemning the NPP’s ongoing disregard and dishonour towards the esteemed chieftaincy institution in Ghana.
