Government officials have made last minute efforts to persuade the Okyenhene Osagyefo Amotia Ofori Panin to participate in the programme of the visit of the British Premier Tony Blair to the Akyem area during his three-day visit to Ghana. The Okyenhene unhappy about the omission of a courtesy call on him by the visiting premier, informed government that he will not partake in any of the activities planned for the visit.

Information Minister Jake Obetsebi Lamptey is said to be making frantic efforts to get the Okyenhene to move out of the palace and participate in the activities of the visiting Premier. Blair who is expected in Accra Thursday evening, will be visiting the Cocoa Research Institute at Tafo and make a stop over at Suhum, both communities in the Eastern Region and under the jurisdiction of the Okyenhene.

But for unexplained reasons the overlord of Akyem Abuakwa was not included in the programme. According to The Independent newspaper, "true to the Okyeman accolade of not looking on unconcerned whilst things get out of hand, the Okyenhene and his elders at a meeting with Jake Obetsebi Lamptey expressed surprised and regret at the omission, which relates to Blair's visit to Tafo and Suhum."

Sources close to the Ofori Panin Stool say, it will have amounted to a slap in the face of tradition for planners of the programme to have allowed the omission to stand, making it clear that the Okyenhene will only participate in the activities connected to the visit if a courtesy call on the occupant of the Ofori Panin stool is included in the British Premier's programme.

A palace source explained that "our elders are not in anyway against Prime Minister Blair's visit and indeed will do all they can to make it successful. Our problem is with the way the Okyehene was left out. "We felt we are an after thought" he added.

By Ghanaian tradition, any august visitor is by courtesy obliged to call on the Chief or regent of an area to announce his presence, a phenomenon, which has been upheld over the years.

The Independent quoting palace sources said, whilst government sources had indicated that the programme could not be varied because it was structured together with Tony Blair's security personnel, the British High Commission has denied knowledge of the omission. They are said to have opined that it was a matter between the government and the Ofori Panin Stool.

The Ofori Panin Stool has a long standing relationship with the British dating to the colonial era and even got one of its prominent chiefs, Nana Ofori Atta I knighted by the British Monarchy. Nana Sir Ofori Atta I is on record to have contributed two airplanes to the efforts of the British during the Second World War, from the coffers of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council. The airplanes were christened 'Akyem Abuakwa' and used effectively during the war. He is also credited with the release of the land on which the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) is sited in 1938.