Elmina, a popular historical town in the Central Region is boiling over its exclusion from the list of towns U.S President Barak Obama will visit in the Central Region during his two-day official visit to Ghana in July.
Residents of the town are demanding the inclusion of Elmina in the itinerary of the US presidents otherwise he will be met with a demonstration.
Speaking on Adom Dwaso Nsem with Ekourba Gyasi, some residents including assembly members posited that they believe Elmina was deliberately left out from President Obama’s visit because of political reasons.
The aggrieved residents of Elmina contended that if the US President was to visit any town in relation to the slave trade, then Elmina could not be left out because of the significant role it played in the slave trade.
The Central Regional Minister, Ms Ama Benyiwa Doe in reaction to the demands of the people of Elmina discounted the claims that Elmina was deliberately left out from the itinerary of President Obama’s visit to Ghana. She said President Obama’s itinerary was drawn from the US and it was he who expressed interest in visiting Cape coast and not the government. She therefore cautioned those behind the wrangling to put a stop to it as it will be a security threat to the Region.
The Omanhene of Elmina, Nana Kojo Conduah VI also on the programme cautioned his subjects to refrain from putting up acts that will bring the name of the ancient town into disrepute. He said he has heard of the demands of his subjects and that he is in the process of meeting with the aggrieved factions to calm their nerves on the issue.
Nana Kojo Conduah VI however registered his protest over a mobile phone invitation from the Regional Commander of the Bureau of National investigations (BNI) over the issue.
He said he was scolded on phone by the BNI Director for not disciplining the people behind the protest.
US President Barack Obama will make a historic visit to Ghana between July10 and 11, 2009 during which he is expected to hold bilateral talks with President John Evans Atta Mills aimed at strengthening the fraternal relations existing between the two countries.
The visit will be Obama’s first trip to sub-Sahara Africa, accompanied by his wife Michelle Obama.
Story by Kojo Addo
Adom FM
1 comment:
The people of Elmina must understand that Obama cannot visit every part of the country. If they have got anything to tell Obama they can channel it through their representatives. However if it is possible for Obama to visit Elmina then the government should arrange for it.
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