Asantehene is divine and can never err -Group

... Pratt, Archer, Korankye & Adinkra targetted

A spokesperson for one of two pressure groups asking commentators to leave the Asantehene out of discussions on the Justice Georgina Wood Committee cocaine probe says Otumfuo Osei Tutu II is infallible.

Mr. Atta Poku of the Asante Youth Association says by Asante custom, immediately someone ascends the Golden Stool he becomes divine and can never err.

Mr. Atta Poku was speaking to Joy News in response to warnings the Asante Youth Association and the Asante United Front have served four media practitioners not to step foot in Kumasi for “habouring malicious intents to destroy Asanteman and the occupant of the golden stool.”

The two groups have tagged Messrs Kwasi Pratt Jnr., editor of the Insight newspaper, Ken Korankye of the Searchlight, Raymond Archer of the Enquirer and Kwame Adinkra, a morning show host at FOX FM in Kumasi as enemies of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and Asanteman.

According to Mr. Opoku, comments of the four since the release of the report of the cocaine probe committee have sought to denigrate Asanteman and this would not be countenanced at all. He explained that the three pillars of Asanteman; Otumfuo, Ntamkessie and Golden Stool are sacred institutions that cannot be discussed anyhow under the guise of freedom of expression.

“When it comes to the Otumfuo, there is nothing like freedom of speech. You can insult me, you can call me any name, I am an ordinary person like anybody but don’t touch Asantehene. .... His name should not be mentioned at all because he is a sacred institution to Asantes. Let me tell you he is our god.”

Mr. Poku said he has had to go through hell over the past three weeks trying tactfully to diffuse boiled-up anger of the people over attempts to link the Asantehene to the missing cocaine and the subsequent probe.

He advised moderators of radio programmes to stop anyone who attempts to say anything that has the potential of bringing the position of the Asantehene into public ridicule and disrespect.

Mr. Kwasi Pratt has however dismissed the warnings as cowardly threats that won’t come to anything and issued by people who do not appreciate that democracy reigns in Ghana.

“People who do not realize that the days of medieval slave raiding empires are over; people who do not appreciate that in a republic, all citizens are equal under the law.” He said he does not feel threatened by the threats at all and is preparing to go to Kumasi soon. He does not intend to report the threats to the security agencies but hopes they would be up to their duties and deal with the “criminal elements” hiding in Kumasi and issuing those threats.

Kwame Adinkra on his part challenged anyone with proof that he has done anything against the Asantehene to provide it, saying he is glad he has not been working secretly in a bedroom on radio where the public can judge him.

He said he is surprised by the tag on him and feels confused, threatened and disappointed.