According to Ghana Web on Monday, October 21, 2024, Bala Maikankan, also known as Chairman Bala and the National Coordinator of Zumunta for Alan Kyerematen, caused controversy when he made remarks perceived as tribal during a political rally in the Ashanti Region.
On Saturday, October 19, 2024, he made these remarks at a gathering in support of Kyerematen, which was arranged by the Movement for Change. Speaker of the assembly, Chairman Bala denounced the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for requesting votes for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the vice president, from the Ashanti Region.
He cast the Bawumia campaign as an appeal to ethnic and religious feelings, raising concerns about why Ashantis could back a candidate on the basis of such things.
People in the Zongo are being told to vote for him since he is a Muslim and a member of the Zongo. Should we vote for him, in your opinion? He asked the assembly. Bala continued, suggesting that Ashantis should support Alan Kyerematen, an Ashanti native, on similar grounds if Bawumia was successful in garnering support through religious and tribal ties.
He said, "Every Ashanti listening to me here or watching me on TV that will vote for Bawumia is cow meat. If you don't vote for him, you are meat."