Our people might have felt disrespected and voted against NPP – Ekumfi Traditional Council

The Ekumfi Traditional Council is attributing the massive defeat of the New Patriotic Party in the Ekumfi area to President Akufo Addo’s earlier statement that the area was denied development because they voted against Francis Ato Cudjoe who was the incumbent member of parliament for the area in the 2020 elections.

The traditional council believes that the statement from the president stirred the anger of the people in the area especially when the president and the entire NPP remained silent even when the council publicly expressed their disappointment with the statement.

Addressing a press conference at Ekumfi Aburam, president of the council who is also the Omanhene of the Ekumfi traditional area, Odeefo Akyin VIII who underscored the need for political officeholders to expect and revere traditional leaders and even the very people who determine the fate of politicians in elections said “as traditional leaders, we are custodians of the land and the people and deserve to be respected. Though we do not do politics I’m certain the former president’s statement did not enthuse our people. We are disappointed that even though we expressed our disappointment in that comment the president [Akufo Addo] and the NPP has still not responded to us”.

While congratulation the president-elect, John Dramani Mahama, the Chief also reminded him to focus on the developmental needs of the people, “embrace teamwork, foster inclusivity, and promote the spirit of collaboration”.

Odeefo Akyin VIII observed that “We, the people of Ekumfi were told plainly that we were neglected because we did not vote for a particular parliamentary candidate during the 2020 general elections.

However, we firmly believe that you and your government will not just show us respect but will have Ekumfiman on your radar and give us the necessary development ended.”

The NPP’s parliamentary candidate for the Ekumfi constituency Stelfan Okumkom garnered 10,992 votes against the NDC’s Othniel Ekow Kwainoe who won with 18,426 of the total valid votes.

The presidential elections saw the NPP gaining  9,284 representing 32.28 per cent while the NDC swept a 19,046 representing 66.23 per cent of the total valid votes.