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Be proud of yourselves, celebrate achievements of ancestors…Bagbin tells chiefs, people of Bono Region
Mr Bagbin
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has asked the chiefs and people of Techiman in the Bono East Region to be proud of themselves and celebrate the achievements of their ancestors.
According to him, one of their illustrious sons the region must celebrate was Nii Kwabena Bonny, aka ‘Boycotthene,’ a chief from Osu who he said was very instrumental in Ghana’s struggle to attain independence in 1957.
Nii Kwabena Bonny, a royal from Techiman, he said engineered the boycott of European goods in the Gold Coast, culminating in the 1948 riots and subsequently paved the way for the country’s independence.
“This instrumental role Nii Kwabena Bonny played by rallying the support of other chiefs in the Gold Coast to boycott European goods compelled the British colonial administrators to speed up the process in granting the country independence; that feat is worth celebrating.”
Mr Bagbin was speaking at a public forum as part of activities marking the 30th anniversary celebrations of the Fourth Republican Parliamentary Democracy in Ghana at Techiman in the Bono East Region.
The forum, organised by the Parliamentary Service Board was attended by traditional rulers, clergy, security agencies, students from the Senior High Schools, Members of Parliament among others.
The Speaker of Parliament urged the youth especially the students to show keen interest in learning the history and cultural heritage of their respective localities to enable them gain knowledge and better appreciate who they are.
Parliamentary democracy, he noted has ensured a stable governance and an uninterrupted democracy, bringing about enormous benefits to the country.
The Vice President of the Bono East Regional House of Chiefs, Nana Owusu Sekyi, appealed to parliament to ensure absolute peace during and after the December poll.
According to him, the death of eight citizens during the 2020 general elections in the Techiman area was a dent on Ghana’s fledgling democracy and such a thing should not occur anywhere in the country come December.
The chief who is also the President of the Baasa Traditional Council noted that nobody should be attacked or intimidated during the electioneering campaigns and elections day.
From Daniel Dzirasah, Techiman
Massive celebrations were recorded countrywide as the Black Stars opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over Panama in Toronto on Wednesday.
Midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi scored the only goal of the match late in the game as he shot in a decent cross from substitute Brandon Asante.
The win gave Ghana a positive start in the competition, placing them in second position behind England, also with three points but with a superior goal aggregate.
After the final whistle, the streets and other viewing centres were turned into partying grounds as fans, mostly clad in the team’s paraphernalia, danced to several World Cup-themed music.
Others blew the vuvuzelas in joyous mood with others putting up a spirited ‘jama’ session.
Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the Adentan Constituency, Akosua Manu, has urged party members to move away from what she describes as an “entitlement mentality” and focus on unity, sacrifice and hard work as the party prepares for the 2028 general election.
In a statement titled “Is Loyalty a Queue?”, and posted on facebook, Ms. Manu argued that loyalty to the NPP should not be judged by how long a person has been in the party but by their contributions and commitment to its growth.
According to her, the NPP’s history shows that many of its leaders faced significant opposition from within the party before eventually leading it to electoral success.
She cited former President John Agyekum Kufuor as an example, saying he had to overcome resistance from influential figures within the party before winning power for the NPP in 2000.
Ms. Manu noted that after the party lost power in 2008, former President Kufuor faced criticism and accusations from some party members.
However, she said supporters eventually put their differences aside and worked together to rebuild the party.
She pointed to the experience of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who, according to her, faced opposition from some factions within the NPP despite his long service to the party.
“His trials were ten times what Kufuor endured,” she stated, adding that Akufo-Addo eventually overcame the challenges and became President of Ghana.
Turning to the NPP’s current flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Ms. Manu said he also faced resistance from different groups within the party while seeking leadership.
She praised Dr. Bawumia for contributing to policy-based political discussions in Ghana and for remaining composed following the NPP’s defeat in the 2024 elections.
According to her, party members must now rally behind him in the same way they supported former Presidents Kufuor and Akufo-Addo.
Ms. Manu, however, warned that internal divisions and a sense of entitlement remain major threats to the party’s future.
She argued that some party members place too much emphasis on how long individuals have belonged to the NPP rather than on their contributions and capabilities.
“This entitlement does not question impact. It does not ask what you sacrificed or what you built. It asks only how long have you been here,” she said.
The former parliamentary candidate cautioned that such attitudes could discourage committed members and prevent the party from selecting the best people for leadership positions.
She further called on the party’s incoming national executives to strengthen the NPP’s core values of sacrifice, honesty, integrity and dedication to national development.
Ms. Manu addressed the concerns of young party supporters, many of whom she said became discouraged following the NPP’s electoral defeat in 2024.
According to her, many young people remain eager to see the party return to power but are unwilling to support internal conflicts driven by personal ambitions.
She urged party elders to place the interests of the NPP above their individual goals and to demonstrate leadership that attracts rather than alienates members.
“The NPP is bigger than any one of us. It always has been. Our collective responsibility is to act like it,” she stated.
By: Jacob Aggrey
