dated Feb, 27, 2012

FRIENDS OF BUAH (Ellembele - Esiama)

Press Statement in reaction to attack on Hon Kofi Buah

Our attention has been drawn to a recent press conference in connection with the relocation of the Gas Infrastructure Project (GIP) by some Chiefs and People of Western Nzema Traditional Council led by Awulae Annor Adjaye in Takoradi.

At the press conference, Awulae Annor Adjaye, Omanhene of the Western Nzema Traditional Council, chastised Honourable Buah for ‘diverting’ the project from its proposed location at Bonyere in the Jomoro District to Atuabo in the Ellembele District saying the MP’s action borders on greed and selfishness.

We the members of Friends of Buah wish to establish unequivocally that the press statement, just as it was uncalled for, is a ploy to denigrate the hard-earned reputation of Honourable Kofi Buah, a visionary Nzema through whose untiring efforts many developmental projects have come to fruition in Nzema in just three years since he took office as an MP and Deputy Minister.

Awulae Annor Adjaye’s statement also accused Mr Buah of attempting to buy one hundred (100) acres of land from a particular chief on his council and said the chief’s refusal to release the alleged parcel of lands was also one of the reasons Hon. Buah is bent on unlawfully relocating the project to Atuabo through the help of Dr George Sipa Yankey – another illustrious son of Nzema.

We Members of Friends of Buah frown upon such baseless allegations and call on Awulae Annor Adjaye to stop peddling falsehood under the guise of fighting for the common good of his people. If Awulae truly had the welfare of the people of Jomoro at heart, then we ask what steps he took to that effect when the former NPP government decided to move the Osagyefo Barge to Tema for no tangible reason?

In fact, the attempt by a Paramount Chief of Awulae’s stature to wrongfully point fingers at innocent individuals for political gain is alien to the tradition and moral values of the people of Nzema. We hereby condemn such an act and warn him to desist from inciting the youth of Nzema and playing politics with matters of very serious national interest.

If Awulae Annor Adjaye cares to know, there are very technical and documented reasons why government decided to site the GIP in Ellembele. These documents are available for everyone who genuinely wants to understand the circumstances of the relocation of the project. The decision was never based on the whims and caprices of Hon. Ama Kofi Buah, as Awulae would want the youth of Nzema and the whole world to believe.

Even granted that the project is moved from Jomoro to Ellembelle or even from Ellembele to Evalue Gwira – are all these locations not part of Nzema? Awulae Annor Adjaye must by now realize that gone are those days when Nzema chiefs regarded their traditional enclaves as private property and would want to decide for the local people, no matter the technical implications.

Awulae Annor Adjaye must also remember that as a Member of Parliament, Hon. Buah has been elected by popular mandate and as such a campaign like the one he is waging against his personality is also campaign against the people who voted and mandated him to represent them in Parliament as well as in government.

We are therefore urging Awulae to render an unqualified apology to Honourable Buah for defamation and character assassination. If Awulae fails to do so within fourteen days, we the members of Friends of Buah and other like-minded Nzemas may also be compelled to advise ourselves regarding his conduct.

Finally, since it has now been confirmed by the Gas National Company that the project would still go to Ellembele, we wish to caution the youth and the chiefs in the Jomoro area to, as a matter of urgency, refrain from casting insults and baseless allegations on our MP whose mandate to serve was massively given by we the youth of Ellembele and not the Jomoro youth.

We thank the regional house of chiefs as well as the Ghana National Gas Company Limited for setting the records straight by maintaining that Atuabo remains the most viable and suitable location for the gas plant and we call on all Nzemas to respect the views of the experts rather than playing dirty politics with the issue.

Nzema deserves better, and it is time we stand as one people with one common agenda to fight for one common goal so that the hopes and aspirations of all Nzemas shall be fulfilled.

Long live Nzema Long live Ghana

Mathew Kainyah - Convener = 0243287739

Felix Quayson - Organizer = 0243 610970