Bibiani-Anhwiaso- Bekwai Galamsey Saga... 'I Didn't Invoke  Curses On  Assembly Members'

The Assembly Member for Sefwi Bekwai Post Office Electoral area in the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai Municipality of the Western North Region, Honourable Eric Oduro has stated categorically that the incessant attacks on his personal life by the Assembly Member for Asawiaso Electoral area, Honourable Ackah Nelson Frank and other colleagues were a personal hatred.

According to him, the recent claim by Mr Nelson Frank and his followers that he had invoked curses on them for accusing the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Bibiani-Anhwiaso- Bekwai Municipal Assembly, Mr Alfred Anwah of engaging in the illegal small scale mining activities was taken out of real contexts.

Mr Oduro admitted to invoking the curses on those who are currently going round in the towns and villages within the municipality making the allegations against the MCE that he was engaging in illegal small scale mining activities, but he neither did not mention the names of his colleagues Assembly members or that of Mr Nelson Frank.

"I want to make clear to the general public that l have never invoked curses of the river deities on my colleagues Assembly Members in the area,"  he clarified.

Mr Oduro was reacting to the recent media publication to the effect he has been dragged to traditional court (Ahenfie) and faces impeachment for raining curses on Mr Nelson Frank who doubles as the Western North Regional President for Ghana Association of Assembly Members (GAAM) and other colleagues over galamsey saga in the area.

In that report, Mr Nelson Frank noted that the association is ready to impeach Mr Oduro for exhibiting gross disrespect towards them.

"We are going to impeach him for disrespecting our standing orders if even he faces Nananom at Ahenfie, how can a whole elected assembly member curse his colleagues over purported galamsey issue?" he quizzes.

"No one has mentioned his name, some were claiming the MCE is a galamsey kingpin, which annoyed Mr Oduro to do the unlawful act, simply because the MCE feeds him."

But, speaking in an interview via telephone call on Thursday, May 6, 2021, to respond to the allegations, Mr Oduro pointed out that he has not to be served with any summon from the traditional authorities of the area in regards to the curses he invoked.

He reiterated that although he invoked the curses on the critics of the MCE, he didn't mention the names of any personality or Assemblymember.

He pointed out that his voice in the rival audio has stated clearly what he said in his courses against the critics of the MCE.

The audio which is in possession of DAILY Analyst reads in part "If you rather are going round destroying the name of the MCE that he was engaging in illegal small scale mining activities and you who are making such statement rather are not taking GH¢2, 000.00 every month as a bribe from those who doing illegal mining activities then all the river gods that l have mentioned names should not kill you then the gods are not doing their works.

The voice contexts of the audio went on to state that "Those who collected monies from the galamseyers and used some to build their houses, especially the so-called person who had sex with a woman and turned up to cover up his deed by way of paying GH¢ 7000.00 to be forgiven.

"...and today he is fighting for position and engaged in dirty politics to destroy his competitors and also that person collected GH¢2,000.00 from somebody to construct the school road in the area but he refused to do the work after collecting the money and that the close associates that he took the GH¢ 2000.00, l am saying that Atoa Nyama such person when you kill him, l would use his wife and children to thank you."  

He pointed out that there are thirty-six (36) elected Assembly members and sixteen government appointees within the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai Municipality and wondered why only the two Assembly members had taken up the matter, ostensibly just to destroy his name.

"Now the question l am asking is that are the two personalities who are doing the galamsey in the area for which they turned up to describe the MCE as galamsey kingpin in the area.

"Why is it that the two are interested in the case of saying that l am insulting or invoking curses on them," he rhetorically queried.

Mr Oduro maintained that there is no association called the Western North Regional for Ghana Association of Assembly Members as far the Assembly concepts and policies are concerned and dared Mr Frank Nelson and his close confidants to come publicly to say how effective such Association is.

"We don't have any association in the connection in our works and dusty lined in the Assembly for which l am a member and the public should ask Mr Frank Nelson when was he elected and who elected him as the Western North Regional President for Ghana Association of Assembly Members. 

"What l know is that they only created a WhatsApp platform with the name Western North Regional for Ghana Association of Assembly Members for which all the Assembly members were put on the platform but it is not a recognize association," he explained.

Mr Oduro denied that he was financially supported by the MCE that is why he was defending the MCE, saying that although the bank of the Assembly has been frozen by the court, every electoral area within the municipality is benefitting from the projects and programmes under the current administration of the MCE.

"So should in case if the MCE is feeding me why should l have my car which was spoilt being packed for almost one and a half year," Mr Oduro fired backed.

Mr Oduro has called on the general public particularly the residents of the electoral areas within the municipality to disregard the recent allegations made against him and the MCE by Mr Francis Nelson and his followers.

 Freeman Koryekpor Awlesu, Greater Accra Regional Correspondent