Asanteman Council Must Call NPP Chairman Wontumi To Order

I respect traditions and culture of the beautiful people of Ghana. I respect the Institution of Chieftaincy and the role it plays in ensuring peace, progress and prosperity of the in the numerous traditional areas in Ghana.

So you can imagine my shock, disquiet and anguish when I heard the thirty-nine years Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party tell Kwame Nkrumah Tekesie of Okay FM on Thursday that he influenced the Asanteman Council to kick Kumasi Mayor Kojo Bonsu out of office. What?!!!

I could not believe what Antwi Bosiako popularly called Chairman Wontumi was saying until he said emphatically that, “I am the Governor of the Asantes. I am responsible for the removal of the various Ashanti Regional Ministers and Yamoa Ponkor, the former Municipal Chief Executive of the Ejisu Juaben Municipality. I am going to cause the removal of the DCE for Kwabre next week.”

Recently, the Media reported that the former Mayor of Kumasi, Kojo Bonsu apologized to the traditional authorities in Kumasi for allegedly grossly disrespecting them. Mr Bonsu had written to the local Government Minister questioning the locus of the Chief of Amoaman, Nana Agyenim Boateng who was appointed by Otumfuo to represent the chiefs on a committee to supervise the construction of the Kejetia Market Project. Citing this as one of the mayor's acts of disrespect towards the chiefs, the council members said they have had enough of the Mayor's insubordination

A clearly contrite Kumasi Mayor rendered an unqualified apology to the Asantehene Otumfou Osei Tutu II and Nananom for what he described as "actions and inactions on my part, which may have incurred their displeasure." Subsequently, he tendered in his resignation.

I was very shocking to hear the NPP chairman say that he influenced the traditional authorities in Kumasi to take that decision.  This is incredible. This is unbelievable.

The 1992 constitution guarantees the institution of chieftaincy together with its traditional councils as established by customary law and usage. To preserve their role as symbols of national unity, however, chiefs are forbidden from active participation in party politics.

So I wish to ask Chairman Wontumi to explain the circumstances under which he a leader of a political tradition conspired with or influenced the traditional authorities in Asante to remove an appointee of the government of the National Democratic Congress.?

I respectfully call on the Asanteman Council to cause an investigation into this matter. I call for the Council to distance itself from this dangerous revelation made by Antwi Bosaiko. I call on the Asanteman council to bring Antwi Bosiako to order.

Antwi Bosaiko claims he is the Governor of the Asantes. Is he saying he is the overlord of our revered powerful King of Asante?

Otumfour Osei Tutu II is the current King of the Asante is revered not only by his people but by others peoples of Ghana and internationally..

I believe that Otumfuo Osei Tutu II was enstooled based on his good qualities including honesty, diligence and hard work. Since ascending the throne, he has shown great leadership in Ashanti, Ghana and overseas. He has transformed chieftaincy considerably over the borders of Ghana and in my humble opinion has become an icon and an epitome for African kings and chiefs.

I am aware of and have seen documented evidence of an extensive lists of duties and functions that His Royal Majesty the Otumfuor   carries out in the interest of Ghana. “His heart for peace has earned him another title or nick name, "King Solomon,” as befitting his character. Otumfuor has donated thousands of dollars from his own coffers to assist in remedying the situation which is very rare among the political elite.

We cannot but accord him the respect and appreciation he deserves. The least we can do as a nation is to insult his integrity. Worse still is when the chair leader of the chorus to undermine and impugn the integrity of Otumfuor Asantehene and the Asanteman Council is NPP Chairman Bernerd Antwi Bosaiko, , a native of Kuntunase Ashanti. Incredible!!

It is important to point to point out to the Ashanti Regional Chairman that he should not underestimate the past and current power and significance of the traditional authorities in Ashanti.

For his education, I wish to maintain that the Ashanti Kingdom has been known by many historians as one of the most powerful that had ever lived since Ancient times. Right from the early days of maintaining its powerful state in this region, it was known to have been successful in resisting the power of Europeans in the coast of West Africa.

Therefore, as a student of history, I am aware of this unprecedented role the kingdom played in the sub-region of Africa for centuries of turbulence. Apart from this bravery performance in the continent to protect and shield its citizens and the people of Africa, it was one of the most noted kingdoms that were capable of maintaining stability due to the superb organization capability their Kings had with all their sub-chiefs and officers. Moreover, though there are many Akan ethnic groups, each had very good contact with the Asantehene because originally they hail from the same ancestors. As the largest ethnic groups in the country, and having their cousins and brothers in the Northern Ghana, the Asantehene would be easily recognized to be the right candidate to be consulted in all matters which bring more peace, more progress and more prosperity to the people of Ghana.

I am not an Ashanti. But I have high respect for Otumfuor and the other traditional leaders of Asante. Therefore I find it astonishing, unfortunate and regrettable to hear the NPP Chairman, who is a young politician from the Bosomtwe area of the Ashanti Region suggest that he is the overlord of Asanteman (Governor of Asantes) and that he influenced the revered traditional authorities to oust Kojo Bonsu from the position of Mayor of Kumasi.

In my  humble  view, the emphatic declaration by the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New patriotic Party in his interview ion OKAY FM on Thursday is sacrilegious and an affront to the dignity and high office of Otumfuor Osei Tutu II and the revered traditional  authorities of Kumasi. I respectfully suggest that the Asanteman Council must bring NPP Chairman Wontumi to order!!

I am waiting patiently to hear from the Asanteman Council.