The Asomdwehene, to wit, King of Peace, a title given to late Prof John Evans Atta Mills, seems to have been muddied, as there appears to be no peace among his own party people who were with him during his reign as President of Ghana.
The feud between the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and its former Deputy General Secretary, Koku Anyidoho, who was the right-hand man of the late president, appears to be deep, as the duo could not collaborate to commemorate the 8th anniversary of the demise of their former leader.
Considering the role Koku Anyidoho played in the Mills-Mahama administration, and his participation in the last election campaign, which Mr John Dramani Mahama contested, many thought that if for nothing at all there would be oneness to celebrate the late Professor Mills.
Last Friday, July 24, was exactly eight years since his demise, hence, the commemorative event.
Unfortunately for this year, which was the maiden anniversary of an institute Koku Anyidoho has set up to uphold and preserve the legacies of his late boss, there were two separate ceremonies on the same day, at the same venue, but at different times.
Whereas the Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Atta Mills Institute, Koku Anyidoho, held a remembrance and wreath-laying ceremony around 7am last Friday, the NDC, as a party, had its commemorative event around 9am.
Former President Jerry John Rawlings and some parliamentarians made time to attend the remembrance and wreath-laying ceremony Koku organised.
Mr Rawlings placed a flower on the tomb of Prof Mills, and Koku also laid a wreath, before walking to the tomb, laid both hands on with his head bent on the tomb for some time. His posture depicted he may have said a prayer on the tomb.
Aside former President Jerry John Rawlings, other dignitaries who were present at Koku’s event included Sam Kofi Atta Mills, son of the late President, and former Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho.
At Koku’s event, the sod was cut for the renovation of the Asomdwe Park to befit a resting place of a late President, and also serve as a tourist site, a decision by the Akufo-Addo government.
According to the CEO of the Coastal Development Authority (CODA), Lawyer Jerry Ahmed Shaib, who cut the sod on behalf of President Akufo-Addo, the redevelopment would be funded by his outfit under the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP).
Koku Anyidoho expressed delight at the Akufo-Addo government’s bold step to renovate the Asomdwe Park, stressing that even when his party, the NDC, was in power from 2012 to 2016, they could not keep the Asomdwe Park in good shape, leaving the place to battle with weeds for space.
It was observed that getting to the end of Koku’s event, some members of the NDC had gathered around the Park, but did not take part in the ceremony.
In an interview on Asempa FM Ekosii Sen programme, days before the Friday event, Koku Anyidoho, who had been asked whether he was expecting former President Mahama and the NDC at his event, only answered that he had sent invitations, and his feedback showed the invitations had been received.
Meanwhile, shortly after the sod cutting, which was the last item on Koku’s agenda for the ceremony, the NDC commenced its programme.
Former President Mahama, Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, and former Speaker Doe Adjaho among other high-profiled persons, took part in the NDC event.
But, former President Rawlings was not at the NDC event, though he was at that of Koku as the Special Guest of Honour.
It is unclear whether the party invited him or not.
The post NDC remembers Asomdwehene with a divided front appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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