The Office of the President has denied reports suggesting that the Director of Protocol, Hassan Ahmed was refused a handshake by the Governor of the U.S state of Nevada.
A video circulating on social media showed how the Governor supposedly refused to take Mr Ahmed’s hand when he offered it.
Instead, the Governor stepped aside, walked towards the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and shook his hand.
Social media commentators were not pleased with the development. For them, the Governor refused to shake Mr Ahmed’s hands because he had perhaps breached protocol.
But in a statement copied to Myjoyonline.com, the Assistant Director of State Protocol Joseph Adjei-Banin said the suggestions are “Misleading and completely false.”
He added that “As part of the protocol discussions prior to the President’s speech, it was agreed that Ambassador Hassan will accompany the President on stage to show the President his seat.
“That is exactly what Ambassador Hassan was doing and not reaching for a handshake. A critical look at the video will show that Ambassador Hassan was pointing to the seat where the President was supposed to sit,” he added.
Mr Adjei-Banin further explained that his boss was rather pointing to the seat where the president was supposed to sit.
Below is a copy of the full statement:
Our attention has been drawn to a video circulating on social media purporting that the Director of State Protocol, Ambassador Ahmed Hassan, was denied a handshake by Governor Brian Sandoval of Nevada, and further that Governor Sandoval instructed Ambassador Hassan to resume his seat in the audience, at the National Governors Association Winter Meeting over the weekend.
The suggestions and interpretations given to this video is misleading and completely false. As part of the protocol discussions prior to the President’s speech, it was agreed that Ambassador Hassan will accompany the President on stage to show the President his seat. That is exactly what Ambassador Hassan was doing and not reaching for a handshake. A critical look at the video will show that Ambassador Hassan was pointing to the seat where the President was supposed to sit.
After the President shook the hands of Governor Sandoval, there was a debate as to whether the President should sit or go straight away to deliver his keynote address. What ensued was Governor Sandoval pointing to the podium for the President to deliver the speech because they were running behind schedule whilst Ambassador pointed to the seat of the President because that was the agreement at the pre-event protocol discussion. The Governor was not directing Ambassador Hassan to resume his seat.
Ambassador Hassan is a well accomplished and meticulous diplomat, who is well versed in protocol. We, therefore, entreat the public to disregard the false suggestion being peddled as a result of a skewed interpretation of what transpired in the video.
Director of Protocol was not denied handshake – Presidency clarifies
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