Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, presidential candidate of the opposition New Patriotic Party for election 2012, was Friday afternoon prevented from greeting the Eastern Regional Minister, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo who was representing President Mills as Special Guest of Honour, at the Odwira festival of the chiefs and people of Akwapim in the Eastern Region. A grand durbar of chiefs and people of Akwapim is being held at Akropong as part of activities to climax the festival. According to Asempa FM’s Eastern Regional correspondent Maxwell Kudekor, Nana Addo arrived at the event late, contrary to event protocol that had stipulated that all be seated before the arrival of the president or his representative. Having paid his courtesy to the chiefs on his arrival, Nana Addo was said to have proceeded to attempt to greet Mr Ofosu Ampofo, who doubled as the chairman of the Eastern Regional Security Council but he (Nana Addo) was prevented from doing so. Nana Addo was said to have asked the police personnel whether the people did not want him to greet them. Having posed the question three times, Nana Addo returned to his seat. Throwing more light on the issue, Divisional Police Commander of the Akwapim South District, Chief Superintendent Ernest Owusu told Asempa FM’s current affairs programme ‘Ekosii Sen’ that the programme was originally billed to start at 1:30pm but as at 3:30pm when it started, Nana Addo and his entourage had not arrived. It was therefore agreed that the Regional Minister, stepping in for the president should proceed to greet the chiefs. It was also agreed that Nana Addo would not be allowed to go round to greet the chiefs and the decision was communicated to him through the traditional secretary one Bekoe, the police commander said. However, he stated, when Nana Addo arrived, he decided to greet the chiefs including the regional minister, but observing protocol, the police prevailed on him to abandon the greetings and take his seat. Press Aide of the NPP flag-bearer, Herbert Krapa confirmed the incident in an interview with Asempa FM. This is the second time that the NPP’s flagbearer had been prevented from greeting dignitaries at a function as a result of protocol breach. In the first week of September he was prevented from greeting President Atta Mills during the Fetu Afahye festival of the chiefs and people of Cape Coast in the Central Region. Story by Isaac Essel/ Kojo Asare-Baffour Acheampong/myjoyonline.com/Ghana