Member of Parliament for Bongo Constituency in the Upper East Region,Edward Bawa has clarified the reason behind he distributing alcohol to some elders in his constituency.
The MP in his engagements with some constituents donated a bottle of a local hard liquor ‘Kalahari Bitters’ to pour libation to protect the constituency and the country from further spread of Covid-19.
However, his donation and motive has been met with public backlash forcing him to clarify the trending issue which has gained grounds on several media platforms.
Below is the full statement issued by the MP;
RE: NDC MP FOR BONGO DONATES ‘KALAHARI BITTERS’ TO FIGHT COVID 19
My attention has been drawn to a publication which appeared on Mynewsgh on May 8, 2020 with the above caption. Same has been published on other media portals.
Whilst I wish to acknowledge that a bottle of locally prepared gin is always added to the items presented to clan and family heads, the caption of the story is not only misleading, but unfair to the essence of the exercise.
The following are the facts:
As part of our efforts to ensure that we protect our people against the COVID 19 pandemic, my team and I decided to visit clan heads and the elderly in their homes to educate them and their households on the preventive protocols as prescribed by health experts.
These visits have taken us to about six hundred homes and families.In addition to this, we also present to each house hold, face masks and sanitizers.Bongo is predominantly traditional in terms of worship.
Therefore a bottle of alcohol is usually presented to the family or clan head to pour libation and ask our ancestors to intercede on behalf of Ghanaians so that we are spared from ravages of this pandemic.
This is very customary and as a product of my custom, I see this gesture not as an excuse to take alcohol but an attempt to tap into the benefits of the spiritual world particularly for those who believe in traditional worship.
Therefore to have a caption that does not reflect the true content of our exercise is unfortunate to say the least.I wish to therefore emphasise that I would not indulge in any acts that will jeopardise the health of my people who have graciously given me the opportunity to represent them in the national assembly.
I will also wish to thank all persons who saw the said article and drew my attention to it. God richly bless you.
Together we can defeat this disease.
Thank you and God bless us all.
Edward Abambire Bawa (MP)
Bongo Constituency
Source:A1radioonline.com|101.1MHZ|Ghana
