On July 24, a high-level government delegation met with Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I to try to lift a recent ban on Samuel Abu Jinapor, the Member of Parliament for Damongo and Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.’
The ban, enacted on July 21, prohibits Jinapor from visiting or leading government officials to palaces within the Gonjaland traditional area. The delegation aimed to negotiate the lifting of this restriction and sought reconciliation between Jinapor and the Gonja King.
The four-member delegation comprised Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Asamoah Boateng, Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul, Savannah Regional Minister Saeed Muhazu Jibril, and the Savannah Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Alhaji Iddrisu Sulemana.
During the visit, the delegation engaged in a closed-door meeting with the Yagbonwura and his council of elders at the Yagbonwura’s residence in Damongo. The conference focused on pleading for forgiveness and resolving the issue surrounding Jinapor’s ban.
The outcome of the discussions and whether the ban will be lifted remains to be seen. Still, the government’s intervention highlights the importance of resolving conflicts between traditional authorities and public officials.
