There was drama in Gonjaland after the Overlord of Gonja Traditional Area the Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale (I) refused to stand up to greet President Akufo-Addo.
In a video sighted by MyNewsGh.com at the Durbar of the 48th Annual Congress of the Gonjaland Youth Association and the 1st Anniversary of the enskinment of the Gonja Overlord, President Akufo-Addo who approached the king to greet gestured for him to stand up.
The Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I gestured by raising his two hands and told his handlers he won’t stand up from his throne to greet the President.
Some of the officials of the Yagbonwura Palace were heard hurling insults at President Akufo-Addo for wanting their King to stand up before greeting him.
On social media the reaction has been negative against Akufo-Addo.
“Our King won’t rise from his skin in public to shake hands with anybody, not even the President of the United States of America. Akufo-Addo tried it elsewhere and it worked but not in Gonjaland.” Mahama Haruna, a Gonja activist and journalist wrote.
“Akufo-Addo was standing waiting for the King and Overlord of Gonja (Yagbonwura) to get up and greet him but some people around the King protested. He Yagbonwura himself through a gesture made it clear he won’t get up. These are issues we know but never commented on because we don’t want people to say we are doing politics.” He added.
Last week, a video went viral on social media showing President Akufo-Addo at an event believed to be a funeral where he is shown making his way to greet traditional leaders at the event.
But in what should have been a routine activity, the president and one of his bodyguards are seen signalling to some of the chiefs to rise to their feet before he greets them.
In the video, when the president reached one particular chief, who was also seated, he gesticulated at him and then, as if to communicate something to him, pointed at himself and then again hand-gestured to the traditional leader to rise to his feet.
He did this before President Akufo-Addo extended his hand to the man to shake it.
Source: Mynewgh.com
