Nii Torgbor Obodai Ampaw, the chief of Mempeasem in Accra, has apologised for failing to stand during the national anthem during last Friday’s Green Ghana event on the University of Ghana campus.

According to Nii Torgbor Obodai Ampaw, he felt “weak” and wasn’t feeling well that day, which is why he couldn’t stand for the national anthem.

In a statement issued Monday, July 12, 2023, in response to media reports on the incident and President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s directive for the chief to stand up, Nii Torgbor Obodai Ampaw said he immediately apologised last Friday at the event grounds through Greater Accra Regional Minister Henry Quartey and explained his medical condition prevented him from standing.

What happened?

A viral video showing President Akufo-Addo ordering Greater Accra Regional Minister Henry Quartey to call the chief of Mempeasem in Accra, Nii Torgbor Obodai Ampaw, and his elders to order at last Friday’s Green Ghana Day national tree planting activity has ignited debate.

During the national anthem, the president noticed Nii Torgbor Obodai Ampaw, the chief of Mempeasem in Accra, and his elders seated.

The president asked the Greater Accra Regional Minister to summon them to order as soon as possible.

The ceremony took place on the campus of the University of Ghana, where luminaries gathered to commemorate Green Ghana Day on Friday, June 9, 2023.

According to Graphic Online’s presidential correspondent, Donald Ato Dapatem, the uncommon gesture of not standing for the national anthem drew the attention of most of those there, including President Akufo-Addo, who was the special guest.

As soon as President Akufo-Addo entered the grounds, as has become customary with his attendance at durbars across the country, he went around to greet the people, including some schoolchildren holding placards about the importance of planting and nurturing trees, and the chiefs before taking his seat.

Following that, President Akufo-Addo ascended the dais, immediately opposite Nii Ampaw and his elders.

The MC, Kafui Dey, said that everyone should rise up for the Ghana Armed Forces Central Band to perform the national song, which was seated directly next to Nii Ampaw and his elders.

It was noted that Nii Ampaw and his elders remained seated during the anthem.

Everyone on the grounds, including the elementary school students who were excited because they had seen the President, remained silent and stood up.

Shortly after the song, the President asked Greater Accra Regional Minister Henry Quartey to question the chiefs over their refusal to stand.

The massively built Regional Minister leapt off the dais, raced to where the chief and his elders were sat and spoke with them.

Following this episode, the chiefs would get up at the slightest announcement.

When the second national anthem was played to signal the end of the show, the chief and his elders rose up, according to Graphic Online.

Nii Torgbor Obodai Ampaw’s explanation

The Mempeasem chief stated that he had arrived at the event earlier in the day and had been waiting for a long time, therefore he was feeling weak.

“… I will like to state for the records that I did not elect to willfully refuse to stand for the observe of 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.”

“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 strongly 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.

“Unfortunately for me, the programme commenced rather late, I had been sitting for a considerable period of time and thus, felt weak from the efforts of the medication and my ill health, by the time the national anthem was being observed, which was why I was unable to stand on my feet to observe it.”