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| The Prez., John Dramani Mahama delivering his speech at the 2012 Ngmayem durbar |
Hi Mr. President,
I bring you warm felicitation from
the home of quality & original beads and rich culture, Odumase-Krobo. It
has become necessary that I check on you and make a few observations known to
you as we the Krobos wrap up and start a new year this October.
The whole of this week, the town has
been bubbling with rich cultural activities to mark the annual Ngmayem festival
of the Chiefs and people of my Manya Krobo (my homeland).
We have a few more days and
activities to go but tomorrow (Friday October 30, 2014) is the d-day for the
grand durbar which will see lots of dignitaries in attendance.
I vividly remember that you graced
the durbar in October 2012 but some of us were under the impression that you
came that year because you needed us (our votes) even more than we needed you
to add to the beauty of the durbar.
I was personally not convinced that
you would have come that year looking at how tight you were on the day but you surprisingly
came (though late) because it was an election year and your presence must be
felt to pull you some more floating votes.
I still remember that you hurried
through your schedule and your “equally important national assignments” (as is
often the excuse) one of which was that year’s National Ed….. gathering/celebration
in the capital city of Accra which ended around mid-day.
Ordinarily, our durbar ends just
around mid-day or 1pm latest, but that year, we had to “WASTE” time in wait for
you because you wanted to come at all cost. And true to your words (and promise
to come) you drove at “top speed” from Accra and arrived at Odumase-Krobo
within the blinking of an eye and hey, you, characteristic of you, wowed and
sparked the crowd on your arrival. Whether or not your coming resulted in the
massive votes you garnered in the presidential election is something I can’t
really prove with figures, but I shudder to think that it did.
I also know that because it often
rains on the durbar day every year, the practice has been to swerve the rain by
closing the durbar early, say by noon. That year was an exception, we waited and
waited for you, drummed and danced to while away time. We literally had to
pause the main activities of the programme with a LOOOOOOONNNGGGG musical
interlude from the Police band.
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| One of the chiefs being beaten by the rain |
Before we could say jack, it started
raining and you even had to deliver your speech under the cover of an umbrella.
That was the first day I saw chief literally swimming in palanquins. We were
heavily beaten by the rain on our return from the durbar and that was because
we delayed.
Why would I conclude that you came
in 2012 mainly to pick your badly needed vote? President Kuffour did same in
2008 (also an election year) and that was the last time I saw a sitting
president at the durbar (at least in recent times) until you also came in 2012
(also an election year). I know you can’t be jumping from one festival to the
other throughout the year, neither can you be at our Ngmayem durbar annually
but when you time your coming to coincide only with an election year, then you
push us into arriving at the conclusion that you come only when YOU NEED US and
not really when we do
I am watching with rapt attention
and in an attention position if you will prove me wrong.
Sources have told me you have been
invited and you are coming godo godo; please do ok to clear that baseless
perception of mine (only formed through observation)
I welcome you I advance
Mo heeeeeeee Mr. President !!!!
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| Traditional priests, known in Krobo as Jemeli rushing off the durbar ground |
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| Add caption |
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| The Police Band performing to while away time as we waited for the President |
Powerful use of words. Thumbs up fellow blogger
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