The overlord of Gonjaland, Yagbonwura Bii-kunuto Jewu Soale I, has firmly rejected President John Dramani Mahama’s nominee for the position of Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the West Gonja Municipality, Braimah Alhassan.
The rejection on April 2, 2025, has sparked a wave of mixed reactions within the local community and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), with some expressing support for the Yagbonwura’s decision while others are calling for a reconsideration.
Braimah Alhassan, a professional anaesthetist and long-serving NDC member, was nominated by President Mahama to serve as the MCE for the municipality in Damongo, the Savannah regional capital.
Alhassan, who has held the position of Damongo Constituency Secretary for the NDC for 27 years, made his first attempt to seek the blessing of the Yagbonwura during a visit to Damongo.
However, according to sources close to the events, things quickly went awry.
Upon arriving at the residence of Damongowura Seidu Kelly, the chief of Damongo, Alhassan, accompanied by a delegation of NDC branch chairmen, was told that the Yagbonwura would not meet with him.
Damongowura Kelly received a message from the Jakpa Palace stating that the Yagbonwura had no intention of seeing the nominee.
This message prompted a swift change in plans as Damongowura and his entourage, which also included several NDC regional council elders, left the venue immediately.
It was reported that the nominee later made another attempt to seek the approval of the overlord through influential Islamic clerics from Dakuripe in the Bole District, but the Yagbonwura’s position remained unchanged.
Although the Yagbonwura’s exact reasons for the rejection are not publicly clear, local rumours suggest that there may be an ongoing land dispute in the Bole Magistrate Court between the Yagbonwura and individuals close to Alhassan.
One source from within the NDC in Bole remarked, “Since when did Mr. Alhassan recognize Yagbonwura, or is it because the President nominated him? He has decided to have nothing to do with the overlord and the palace, which is the symbol of Gonja.”
Further reflecting on Alhassan’s behavior, the source pointed out his previous reluctance to engage with the Yagbonwura:
“The era where anybody could disgrace the Jakpa Palace and have their way is over. Some NDC regional council elders and constituency executives came to seek the blessing of the King during the 2024 elections. Where was Braimah Alhassan? He refused to show up.
“Even when national executives of the party came to the palace, along with the Bole-Bamboi MP and regional executives, Mr. Alhassan was in town but still refused to see the overlord. So, is it today that he wants to come; what has changed?”
This sentiment was echoed by several local residents, particularly those who remember past interactions—or lack thereof—between Alhassan and the Jakpa Palace.
They argue that the rejection is not a sudden development but the result of a history of disrespect and neglect for the traditional authority of Gonjaland.
Alhassan’s nomination for the MCE role has not been without controversy in the past.
During the presidency of the late John Evans Atta-Mills, Alhassan was also nominated for a similar position.
However, his candidacy faced considerable opposition from NDC supporters, leading to his replacement by Adam Mutawakilu, a confidante of Alhassan, who is now serving as the Managing Director of the Ghana Water Company Limited and a two-term Member of Parliament for Damongo.
The latest rejection has once again stirred debate within the NDC, particularly in the West Gonja Municipality, where some party supporters are backing the Yagbonwura’s stance, while others are urging for leniency and reconciliation.
Despite the tension, it remains unclear whether President Mahama will push forward with the nomination or look for an alternative candidate.
