Presidency reacts to State Protocol snub at US summit

The Presidency has reacted to media reports suggesting that the Director of State Protocol, Hassan Ahmed, was snubbed by the Governor of U.S State of Nevada.
A video circulating on social media seems to show the US Governor, Brian Sandoval, refusing to shake Mr Ahmed’s hand when he offered it for a handshake.
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The Governor instead walked up to President Akufo-Addo to shake his hand.
Social media commentators say Hassan Ahmed breached protocol by offering to shake the Governor first.
The incident happened at the at the National Governors Association (NGA) Winter Meeting recently.
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But a statement signed by the Assistant to Director of State Protocol, Joseph Adjei-Banin, says the Director of Protocol was not offering his hand to the US Governor for a handshake; rather, he was directing Nana Akufo-Addo to where his seat was.
The statement says the suggestions and interpretations given to the video is misleading and completely false.
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“The suggestions and interpretations given to this video is misleading and completely false. As part of the protocol discussions prior to the President’s speech, it was agreed that Ambassador Hassan will accompany the President on stage to show the President his seat. That is exactly what Ambassador Hassan was doing and not reaching for a handshake. A critical look at the video will show that Ambassador Hassan was pointing to the seat where the President was supposed to sit” part of the statement said.
Below is the full statement:
Our attention has been drawn to a video circulating on social media purporting that the Director of State Protocol, Ambassador Ahmed Hassan, was denied a handshake by Governor Brian Sandoval of Nevada, and further that Governor Sandoval instructed Ambassador Hassan to resume his seat in the audience, at the National Governors Association Winter Meeting over the weekend.
The suggestions and interpretations given to this video is misleading and completely false. As part of the protocol discussions prior to the President’s speech, it was agreed that Ambassador Hassan will accompany the President on stage to show the President his seat. That is exactly what Ambassador Hassan was doing and not reaching for a handshake. A critical look at the video will show that Ambassador Hassan was pointing to the seat where the President was supposed to sit.
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After the President shook the hands of Governor Sandoval, there was a debate as to whether the President should sit or go straight away to deliver his keynote address. What ensued was Governor Sandoval pointing to the podium for the President to deliver the speech because they were running behind schedule whilst Ambassador pointed to the seat of the President because that was the agreement at the pre-event protocol discussion. The Governor was not directing Ambassador Hassan to resume his seat.
Ambassador Hassan is a well accomplished and meticulous diplomat, who is well versed in protocol. We, therefore, entreat the public to disregard the false suggestion being peddled as a result of a skewed interpretation of what transpired in the video.
Thank you.
Signed:
Joseph Adjei-Banin
Assistant to Director of State Protocol
Office of the President