Kumasi Chief warns Mahama and NDC over disrespect for Asantehene

The Chief of Agric-Nsima, Nana Boadu Ayeboafo has cautioned former President John Dramani Mahama and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to mindful of their commentary that connotes disrespect to the Asanteman and the King Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

He has sent a strong warning to Mr. Mahama and his NDC never to dare to rope the Asantehene into their ‘dirty’ and ‘uncensored’ tribal politicking.

The Chief warned Mr. Mahama and former Chief of Staff Julius Debrah as well as their party to stay off issues about Asanteman and Manhyia since the King does not dabble in party politics.

To him, if the NDC does not respect the dignity of Asanteman and its King, they should be bold to say it rather than hiding behind such trivialities, adding that ‘no power can bring Asanteman down’, and urged all in the kingdom to reject any move to bring disgrace to the golden stool.

Nana Boadu Ayeboafo was reacting to some media publications that described Otumfuo Osei Tutu II as a liar which has left residents of the Asante Kingdom fuming with rage over the NDC’s attack on the respected King

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II while speaking at the United Nations General Assembly remarked that it was through his effort that the former President who was unwilling to accept defeat, conceded.

Otumfuo explained: “at the conclusion of the last presidential and parliamentary elections, the country stood on the edge of disaster. The United Nations representative and the diplomatic community were aghast and alarmed that Ghana was about to slip down the slope of the electoral violence…Fortunately, the moral authority of the palace was at hand. We were able to intervene to persuade the losing candidate to accept his fate and to fly both candidates for a quiet encounter to pave way for a smooth handover.”

However, a former Chief of Staff under the John Mahama reign issued a statement and refuted the Otumfuo’s earlier assertion, claiming that the former President was never persuaded to concede defeat as was claimed by the Asantehene.

According to most people in the region, the statement from the former Chief of Staff is an insult to the reputation and authority of the Asantehene as it was a subtle way to describe the King as a liar.