The Asogli Traditional Council says a ban declaring National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Freddie Blay persona non grata in the Volta region affects him [Blay] only not the party.

The Council on Wednesday declared Blay an unwanted person in the Volta Region following his response to comments made by the Paramount Chief of the Asogli State, Togbe Afede XIV on his acquisition of some 275 buses.

Togbe Afede had said “Sometime ago it was one party building a multi-million dollar headquarters. We (Nananom) all sat down and did not complain…and more recently some aspiring chairman of a party buying several 275 vehicles. These are matters that should attract Nananom’s attention and I am very happy that at least, the latest one has attracted the attention of the Special Prosecutor.”

The Chairman did not take kindly to those comments. In an interview with Joy News’ Kojo Yankson, he expressed surprise at the chief’s comment.

“I find it a poverty of thought from individuals…my only worry is that individuals like Togbe Afede have come in…he says the perception of corruption and vote buying. I am disturbed maybe he doesn’t know what he is talking about.

“In his position as president of House of Chiefs in this country…maybe from nowhere he’s also risen to become a president or he has become a big businessman in this country, maybe he has never asked for loans, he got the money from selling palm wine to get there,” Blay said.

The Asogli Traditional Council upon hearing these comments called on Blay to apologise. He did not.

They, therefore, proceeded with a ban after it became apparent that the Chairman was not going to apologise. This means that Blay is unwelcome to any of the 33 communities that make up the Asogli State.

But some sympathizers of the NPP see the ban on Blay as a ban on the entire party.

The Council says this is not the case.

Paramount Chief of Ziavi, Togbe Koku Ayim V who announced the ban says their focus is on Blay and not the NPP as is being speculated.

“The Asogli traditional Council is not laying that order on the NPP as a political party. NPP is made up of individuals, they came together to form a party of which Blay is the Chairman

It is not all NPP members who have offended or spoken rudely to Tobge Afede, offending we the chiefs of the Ewe land. So we are saying that it is Blay who has gone contrary to our customs and traditions, we are not talking of political lines,” he added.

Sylvester Tetteh who speaks for Blay in a response, said the Chairman is a matured politician and knows how to navigate issues like this.

He insists that the Chairman did not insult Togbe Afede and that it was unfortunate that he had been banned.

“Hon Blay is a mature politician and a chief ….a traditional ruler in his own village…he knows these things so well and by his nature, upbringing and the way he has conducted himself in this country, I don’t think he will wake up and insult traditional leaders in this country.

“Discussions are still ongoing and the official position of Freddie Blay will be made known on this matter,” he added.