I Didn’t Elect To Willfully Refuse To Stand; Mempeasem Chief On National Anthem Saga
The Chief of Mempeasem, Nii Torgbor Obodai Ampaw VI has ascribed ill health to his decision to remain seated as the National Anthem was sung at the celebration of the Green Ghana Day organized by the University of Ghana, Legon, on Friday, June 9.
According to him, he didn’t elect to refuse to stand as he felt “weak”.
In a statement, he apologised for his action which didn’t go down well with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo who was the guest of honour at the event as well as Ghanaians who feel offended.
In the video, President Akufo-Addo as well as all guests were captured standing as they sang the national anthem, however, the chief and his elders were captured seated. Their action prompted visibly furious President Akufo-Addo to direct the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, to put them to order.
In his statement, the Chief asserted he was a law-abiding citizen contrary to criticisms from a section of Ghanaians and noted, “I will like to state for the records that I did not elect to willfully refuse to stand to observe the national anthem. No patriotic son of the land will do so, let alone a chief, more so in the presence of the president and other distinguished guests.”
He explained, “I did not stand up to observe the national anthem because I felt weak. Even though I was not well and was on medication, I endeavoured to attend the programme because I share the vision of the President for the Green Ghana Day initiative. I was hoping everything will go as planned so I could retire home in time to continue with my recuperation.”
He said he rendered an immediate apology to the President through the Regional Minister when he was conveyed his message and “after that, even though I was still not feeling well, I did my best to stand on my feet for the opening prayer and subsequently, the second observation of the national anthem at the end of the programme in reverence to the President and all the distinguished guests.”
He added, “But for my temporary incapacitation, I will never refuse to willfully properly observe something as important as the national anthem. I am therefore by this communication, unreservedly apologizing.”
