Yagbonwura Rejects President Mahama’s MCE Nominee for West Gonja Municipality

In a surprising turn of events, the overlord of Gonjaland, Yagbonwura Bii-kunuto Jewu Soale I, has firmly rejected the nomination of Braimah Alhassan as the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for West Gonja Municipality in the Savannah Region.

The rejection, made public on April 2, has raised eyebrows in the local political scene.

Alhassan, who is a professional anaesthetist and the Damongo Constituency Secretary for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), had traveled to Damongo for the traditional introduction, where he was to meet Yagbonwura through the Damongowura, Seidu Kelly.

However, before the introduction could take place, Damongowura received word from Jakpa palace, stating that the Yagbonwura had no interest in meeting with the nominee.

This decision led to an abrupt cancellation of the meeting, with Damongowura, his elders, and NDC officials quickly retreating.

Sources close to the NDC in Bole have revealed that Alhassan made another attempt to seek the overlord’s blessing, reportedly using influential Islamic clerics from the Bole district. However, upon hearing the king’s stance, they too backed away.

Although no official reason has been provided for the rejection, local rumors suggest that there may be a land dispute between the Yagbonwura and Alhassan’s associates, which could have influenced the decision.

Further adding to the tension, Yagbonwura’s supporters have pointed out that Alhassan had previously shown disregard for the Jakpa palace during the 2024 election period, when he refused to meet with the overlord despite requests from regional and constituency NDC executives.

This rejection has sparked a variety of reactions among the local population. While some supporters of Yagbonwura have voiced strong approval of his decision, others have pleaded for mercy, suggesting that Alhassan’s long tenure as the NDC’s constituency secretary may be a key factor in his eventual nomination.

Interestingly, this is not the first time Alhassan has faced rejection for a similar role. In the era of late President John Atta-Mills, Alhassan was also nominated for the MCE position but faced petitions and was later replaced by Adam Mutawakilu, who is now the Managing Director of the Ghana Water Company Limited.