The Okyehene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panyin has expressed discontent over continues bribery accusations leveled against Chiefs in the Country by the opposition New Patriotic Party.
According to him, the frivolous comments are “offensive ” to the Chieftaincy Institution.”all we hear in the papers is Nananom have been bribed,i don’t know how some of you take it, but it is offensive to some of us”
The opposition New Patriotic Party has continuously accused Chiefs endorsing President John Dramani Mahama second term of bribery.According to the Party, the President has bought the Chieftaincy institution with V8 vehicles, huge cash and Board positions in order to court their support.
Addressing the media on Thursday in Koforidua, the Eastern regional Youth Organizer, Jerry Osei Poku joined the Party attacks on Chiefs stating,President John Mahama has corrupted the Chieftaincy Institution compelling some of the Chiefs to be left with no other choice than to endorse and declare their support to him. This he said amounts to inducement and vote buying which unfortunately, some Chiefs have allowed themselves to be bought.
“Our President has made it a policy to ostensibly bribe our chiefs and take our Chieftaincy Institution for granted.This so called endorsement by the Chiefs especially those in the Eastern region are stage managed.why are we saying so,there are a number of Chiefs in this region that the President has appointed onto boards and state cooporation ,there some of the Chiefs that have received cash from the President, some have received V8 vehicles that they cannot even fuel,some have taken pick-Ups,Land Cruisers among others,so if a chief in this category makes a statement supporting the President or praising the President, first and for most what clicks your mind is that it is out of inducement that that chief is making such claims”.
However Reacting to the claims after the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs Election on Thursday in Koforidua, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panyin who has been re-elected President of the regional House of Chiefs debunked the allegations” In 2012, President Mahama gave to the National House, as has been the case ,every four years,Presidents of every house is given a brand new vehicle, President Mahama came to the house to announce that the Vehicle were ready so 13 or 14 Land Cruisers were brought to the National House in Kumasi for the various Presidents and the National House President and his Vice,all we hear in the Papers is Nananom had been bribed,,i don’t know how some of you take it,but it is offensive to some of us.the Vehicles are Official Car of the President of Eastern regional House of Chief it is not.my personal use”
He advised Chiefs in the region to refrain from making political comments that would open up attacks on the Chieftaincy institutions in order to protect the santity and intergrity of the Chieftaincy institution.
The Eastern regional House of Chiefs election supervised by the Electoral commission saw Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panyin, re-elected unoppose as President, Nana Osei Nyarko III ,Paramount Chief of Boso-Gua went unopposed and re-elected as Vice President, four other members were elected to represent the Regional House of Chiefs at the National house of Chiefs.