Overlord of Gonjaland, Yagbonwura Bii-kunuto Jewu Soale I, has rejected President John Dramani Mahama's nominee, Braimah Alhassan, for the position of Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for West Gonja Municipality in the Savannah Region.

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On Tuesday, April 2, the nominee arrived in Damongo with the expectation of receiving the traditional endorsement of the Gonja King. As custom dictates, he first paid a courtesy call on the Chief of Damongo, Damongowura Seidu Kelly, who was to lead him to the Jakpa Palace for a formal introduction to Yagbonwura.

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However, before they could proceed, a message from the palace instructed Damongowura to halt the process as the King did not wish to receive the nominee.

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This sudden turn of events forced Damongowura, his elders, and a delegation of National Democratic Congress (NDC) branch chairmen to abandon their visit.

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Sources within the NDC in Bole revealed that Mr. Braimah Alhassan later attempted to gain the King's support through influential Islamic clerics from Dakuripe in the Bole District. However, upon learning of the King's firm stance, the clerics declined to intervene.

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While the Yagbonwura has not publicly provided a reason for rejecting the nominee, speculation in the town suggests that an ongoing land dispute in the Bole Magistrate Court involving the King and individuals close to Mr. Alhassan may have influenced the decision.

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A source close to the palace questioned the nominee's past relationship with the Overlord, stating:

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"Since when did Mr. Alhassan recognize Yagbonwura, or is it because the President nominated him? Because he has decided to have nothing to do with the overlord and the palace, which is the symbol of Gonja."

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Expressing further concerns, the source added:

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"Listen, the era where anybody could disgrace the Jakpa Palace and have their way is over. Some NDC Regional Council of Elders and constituency executives during the 2024 elections came to seek the blessing of the King. Where was Braimah Alhassan? He refused to show up. Even when some national executives of the party came to the palace again, followed by the Bole-Bamboi MP and a host of regional and constituency executives, Mr. Alhassan was in town but still refused to see eye to eye with the overlord. So, is it today that he wants to come? What has changed?"

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The rejection of Mr. Alhassan has stirred mixed reactions among party supporters, with some backing the King’s decision while others are pleading for reconsideration.

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Mr. Braimah Alhassan, a professional anesthetist working with the Ghana Health Service, has served as the Damongo Constituency Secretary of the NDC for 27 years. However, this is not the first time he has faced opposition regarding a mayoral appointment.

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During the late President John Evans Atta-Mills' administration, he was nominated for the MCE position but was met with strong resistance from party supporters, leading to his replacement by Adam Mutawakilu, the now Managing Director of the Ghana Water Company Limited and former Member of Parliament for Damongo.

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With tensions rising over his rejection, it remains to be seen how the NDC leadership and President Mahama will navigate the fallout from the Yagbonwura’s firm stance on the matter.

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