Asantehene summons accusers before God, Golden Stool
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has categorically denied the allegation that he served as a conduit for the alleged bribery of the Supreme Court judges who adjudicated on the 2012 presidential election petition to deliver judgement in favour of President John Dramani Mahama.
Speaking for the first time since the allegation came up in a section of the media, the Asantehene described the development as a deliberate attempt to soil not only his name but that of the Golden Stool as well.
Consequently, he said, he had summoned those who made the baseless allegation against him before the Almighty God, the Golden Stool and all the lesser gods to deal with them.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu, who was very emotional, stated this at the first meeting of the Asanteman Council after his return from abroad for medical check-up.
The Asanteman Council is the highest administrative and judicial body of Asanteman and it has as its members all the paramount chiefs in the Ashanti, parts of the Brong Ahafo and the Volta regions.
Allegations on radio
On September 4, 2013, the New Free Press Online published an article which mentioned Otumfuo Osei Tutu as having facilitated the payment of bribes to some Supreme Court judges to adjudicate the petition in favour of President Mahama.
Kumasi-based Kessben FM, on September 9, also broadcast the article, discussed it on its morning show and allowed listeners to call in to comment on the matter.
Later, the owner of the radio station, Mr Kwabena Kesse, apologised on the same network to the Asantehene.
That was after the paramount chiefs in Asanteman had, in a press statement, condemned the radio station for going to town on a story that had no basis.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu said his kingship was not to please man but God and the Golden Stool that he served.
In that regard, he gave an assurance that he would not do anything to bring down the hard-earned reputation of Asanteman.
According to the Asantehene, the perpetrators of the allegation were on a deliberate mission to disgrace the Asante Kingdom, not only he as a person.
Stand to defend the Golden Stool
Otumfuo Osei Tutu, therefore, urged the members of the Asanteman Traditional Council to stand firm and defend the Golden Stool, which represented the soul and spirit of Asanteman.
Expressing worry over how information of such nature was treated in the media with impunity, without any attempt to find out the truth behind it, he said similar allegations had been made against him in the past, all of which turned out to be false.
He mentioned two of the allegations as his linkage to the cocaine business and the loss of some gold ornaments belonging to the Golden Stool in Norway.
Regrettably, he said, those who perpetrated the lies took no steps to apologise to him when the allegations were found to be false.
The Asantehene said even before he became the Overlord of Ashanti, he had never got himself involved in acts that would give him a bad name.
Therefore, it was highly irresponsible for anyone to link him to a serious crime such as bribery.
Touching on other matters before the Asanteman Council, Otumfuo Osei Tutu said the council was determined to clear all “outstanding issues” before the council before the end of the year.
That, he said, would pave the way for the celebration of his 15 years on the Golden Stool next year.
Earlier, the Mamponghene and occupant of the Silver Stool, Daasebre Osei Bonsu II, had briefed the Asantehene on developments while he (the Asantehene) was out of the country.
By Kwame Asare Boadu & Ernestina Kyerewaa Oppong/Daily Graphic/Ghana
