The Overlord of Gonjaland, Yagbonwura Bii-kunuto Jewu Soale I, has rejected President John Dramani Mahama’s nominee, Braimah Alhassan, as Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the West Gonja Municipality in the Savannah Region.
On Tuesday, April 2, 2025, Mr. Alhassan, accompanied by Damongowura Seidu Kelly and other local leaders, visited Damongo to introduce himself to the Yagbonwura as part of customary protocol.
However, before any formalities could take place, Damongowura received a message from the Jakpa Palace stating that the king refused to meet the nominee. This message led to the immediate abandonment of their mission by Damongowura, his elders, and several NDC branch chairmen.
Sources within the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Bole revealed that Mr. Alhassan made a second attempt to seek the king’s approval through influential senior Islamic clerics from Dakuripe in the Bole district. However, they too respected the king’s decision and declined to intervene.
Sources within the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Bole revealed that Mr. Alhassan made a second attempt to seek the king’s approval through influential senior Islamic clerics from Dakuripe in the Bole district.
However, they too respected the king’s decision and declined to intervene.
While the reasons behind Yagbonwura’s rejection of Mr. Alhassan remain unclear, rumors suggest a land dispute between the overlord and some close associates of the nominee, which may have influenced the decision.
A source familiar with the situation pointed out that Mr. Alhassan had previously shown little regard for the Jakpa Palace.
“Since when did Mr. Alhassan recognize Yagbonwura, or is it because the President nominated him? He has refused to acknowledge the overlord and the palace, which represents the Gonja people. He did not show up during the 2024 elections when NDC executives came to seek the king’s blessing. So why is he suddenly interested now?” the source inquired.
The rejection has sparked mixed reactions among local party supporters. Some have endorsed Yagbonwura’s stance, while others are calling for clemency.
Mr. Alhassan, a professional anaesthetist with the Ghana Health Service, has served as the Damongo Constituency Secretary of the NDC for 27 years.
This is not the first time he has faced opposition to such a nomination. During the late President John Evans Atta-Mills’ administration, Alhassan was nominated for the MCE position but faced petitions from party supporters, which led to his replacement by Adam Mutawakilu, the current Managing Director of the Ghana Water Company Limited.
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