The Paramount Chief of the Aflao Traditional Area, Togbui Amenya Fiti V has debunked widespread reports that he, in 2013, pledged to deliver 100,000 votes to President John Dramani Mahama in the 2016 general election.
He maintained the reports were false, adding that the statement he made during the said period was deliberately twisted by some media houses to put him in bad light.
Welcoming the 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in his Palace on Saturday, Togbui Fiti V stressed “My word is that I have the numbers. Parties should come and campaign and get the numbers. I am not saying I am giving the numbers to any particular party. No!”
With queenmothers and residents present, the Paramount Chief reaffirmed, “I am here for everybody, no matter your colour or party. I will not differentiate between Party A and B. No! This is my land, and my people. They listen and hear my voice whenever I am ready to speak with them. But, I will not give them my voice that ‘go and vote for party A or B’. I will never do that in my life. I am a Traditional Ruler,” he added
Togbui Fiti V explained that as the Paramount Chief of the Aflao Traditional Area, his jurisdiction extends to the Republics of Togo and Benin.
He said with “all the tribes in the ECOWAS countries here in the Aflao Traditional Area,” he told President Mahama during his visit to his palace that “looking at the nature of my people, I have the votes, I have the people, I have the numbers. Aflao is a beautiful lady that I am putting on the table for handsome men like you to come and take home. I will never hide my beautiful queen. If the next party should come tomorrow, I will still put beautiful queen on the table.”
The Paramount Chief reiterated that at no point in this interaction did he pledge to give 100,000 votes to President Mahama in this year’s election.
He therefore told Nana Akufo-Addo that he was free to campaign in Aflao, stressing that “I am giving you the entry permit to go into the town, campaign, give them your vision, what you can do for them and I am sure by God’s grace you will get your way through.”
Nana Akufo-Addo exchanging pleasantries with one of the queenmothers
Recounting the bonds of friendship between him and NPP flagbearer, Togbui Fiti V told the gathering that it was through the efforts of Nana Akufo-Addo, then Foreign Minister, that he and a delegation of Chiefs from the Aflao Traditional Area were able to secure visas to travel to Canada for an official duty.
Again, he indicated that as Foreign Minister, Nana Akufo-Addo was responsible for extending the closing time at the border from 6pm to 10pm.
A former Presidential aspirant, Alan Kyerematen who was with the NPP flagbearer was applauded by Togbui Fiti, for his efforts in helping the people of Aflao when he was Minister for Trade, Industry and PSIs.
“When Alan was Minister for Trade, I went to office to ask of him to help lift the embargo placed on the importation of certain items through the border so my people can get something to eat. He did something (in that regard) and my women also got something to live on,” he added.
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By: Awudu Mahama/citifmonline.com/Ghana