–BY Issah Olegor
A dramatic altercation reportedly unfolded at the Jubilee House on Monday, May 12, 2025, between Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, Member of Parliament for Korle Klottey, and Senior Presidential Advisor Dr. Valerie Sawyerr, following weeks of mounting political tension over the appointment of a Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly (KoKMA).
According to a credible source at the presidency, the confrontation escalated into a near-violent with alleged pulling of a pistol during the heated exchange on the third floor of the Jubilee House.
A security officer stationed at the Jubilee House is said to have intervened just in time to prevent the situation from spiraling into a disaster.
The source, who recounted the incident, alleged that the confrontation stemmed from a long-standing rivalry between the two women, deeply rooted in personal and political history.
Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, daughter of the late former President Jerry John Rawlings, has had a frosty relationship with Valerie Sawyerr, daughter of former Rawlings Education Minister, Harry Sawyerr.
The animosity, sources say, began during the Rawlings era, when Valerie was said to be too close to Rawlings.
That personal history appears to have now intersected with raw politics, threatening to shake the internal cohesion of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Korle Klottey Constituency, where Valerie comes from.
The latest episode began when President John Mahama nominated Alfred Ato Allotey-Gaisie as MCE for KoKMA, a choice that had the full backing of Zanetor.
Alfred Ato Gaisie was reportedly her preferred candidate, and party insiders say he enjoys significant grassroots support within the constituency.
However, his nomination met unexpected resistance during the initial confirmation vote by assembly members.
In the first round of voting, held in early May, Allotey-Gaisie secured only five out of 17 votes—falling short of the constitutionally required two-thirds majority.
The assembly, made up of ten elected members and seven government appointees, delivered a result that stunned Zanetor and her allies.
Suspicion of foul play quickly surfaced. Multiple sources within the party and local government alleged that Dr. Sawyerr may have influenced the outcome of the voting.
Reports indicate that the 17 assembly members allegedly received some hand-outs to ensure Gaisie’s rejection.
A ward coordinator (named withheld) in the constituency corroborated the claims, stating that the financial inducement came in a bid to sabotage Zanetor’s candidate.
Tensions reached a boiling point when allegedly Dr. Zanetor confronted Valerie Sawyerr at Jubilee House just days later.
While both parties have remained publicly silent on the incident, the gravity of the confrontation—especially the allegation of a weapon being brandished—has sparked internal discussions within the presidency and the NDC.
Following the fracas and subsequent fallout, the presidency opted to re-nominate Allotey-Gaisie.
This time, the political winds shifted. On Tuesday, May 14, all the 17 assembly members unanimously confirmed him as MCE, a dramatic reversal that insiders attribute to internal pressure and the public outcry following reports of alleged bribery and manipulation.
The confirmation was attended by Greater Accra Regional Minister Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, who reportedly played a behind-the-scenes role in restoring calm among feuding party factions.
Dr. Zanetor, while visibly relieved at the final outcome, has not publicly addressed the incident at the Jubilee House, nor the any other allegations against Sawyerr.
However, attempts to reach the two parties to get their sides of the story at press time yesterday were unsuccessful.
