Mahama Slams Akufo-Addo for Insisting Chiefs Stand to Greet Him

Former President John Dramani Mahama has slammed President Akufo-Addo for insisting chiefs in the country stand to greet him.

According to the flagbearer of the largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), that posturing is arrogant and anti-democratic.

At a programme in the Savannah Region over the weekend, the President was accused by a section of the populace of ordering the Yagbonwura around and insisting that the traditional leader stand to greet him.

This comes on the back of another video which surfaced a fortnight ago which captured the president and one of his bodyguards signalling to some chiefs in the Oti Region to rise to their feet before he greets them.

In the video, when the president reached a particular chief who remained seated, he gestured at him and then pointed to himself, indicating that the chief should stand. This has sparked debates about respect and protocol at traditional events.

Reacting to this, Mr Mahama noted that the President’s attitude and utterances give much cause for concern.

“The almost eight years of Nana Addo/Bawumia have done extensive damage to our democracy. As the clock ticks towards the end of his mandate, the President’s attitude and utterances give much cause for concern. His recent insistence that chiefs stand up to greet him should be a matter of serious consternation for political watchers,” he posted on his social media handle.

The almost eight years of Nana Addo/Bawumia have done extensive damage to our democracy. As the clock ticks towards the end of his mandate, the President's attitude and utterances give much cause for concern. His recent insistence that chiefs stand up to greet him should be a…

— John Dramani Mahama (@JDMahama) April 29, 2024