Dr. Bawumia Received 'Thunderous' Applause, Insignificant Few Booed - Sammi Awuku On Hogbetsotso Incident

Sammi Awuku, the Director of the National Lottery Authority, has reacted to news circulating that the Vice President was booed during the 60th Anniversary celebration of Hogbetsotso Za held at the Anloga park in the Volta Region.

The Hogbetsotso celebration which came off over the weekend saw rich culture on display.

The Vice President of the Republic, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and the King of Ashanti, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, together with other dignitaries graced the occasion.

During the event, the Vice President delivered a speech where he pledged the commitment of government to restoring the economy and also shared some achievements chalked by the Akufo-Addo administration.

"For the first time in our history, any Ghanaian who has a national ID card can open a bank account, sitting at home and don't have to go to any bank to fill a form.

"For the first time in our history, we have drones, medical drones delivering medical supplies to our people in very remote areas whether its blood, vaccines, medicines and so on... and Ghana, our own Ghana is the whole world's largest medical drone delivery, the whole world.

"For the first time in our history people can buy electricity units on their own phones (mobile phones), for the first time in our history, we have One District, One Factory and are clearing good paperless at the ports...", he said.

Dr. Bawumia however noted that the government still has a lot to do to improve the lives of Ghanaians.

"There are many people who don't like to hear good news but it is good news but that doesn't mean we don't have much more to do."

"We have more to do, Ghanaians are facing a major increase in the cost of living, the cost of food prices, fuel prices and so on and we have to do more to make sure we can relieve the burden of Ghanaians."

A video has surfaced showing a section of the crowd gathered at the Hogbetsotso festival shouting "away" in an attempt to stop him.

Sammi Awuku, speaking Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show, admitted that Dr. Bawumia was booed but stressed it was an insignificant few people who embarked on that assignment.

"When he mentions the achievements, then you could see the people cheering him...then I saw at the extreme corner of the park, right, corner like a corner post on the football pitch; a group of people numbering about 30 started rushing to the center at where the Vice President was delivering his speech.

"So, whereas you had one group cheering the Vice President, about 500 or so people to the right, these people I saw [I'm sure they will be about 40], I could count at least between 30 to 40...I say they formed almost an insignificant portion of the about 2000 people who had gathered", he explained.

Mr. Awuku emphasized that no matter how hard they tried to heckle the Veep, the applause for him was thunderous.

"The Vice President arrived at Anloga to a rousing welcome, not somebody saying. They gave him a warm reception...When the Vice President started talking or speaking, the applause the Vice President received...the thunderous applause the Vice President had, mind you this is an NDC stronghold."