Rawlings receives Asanteman Council delegation

Accra (Greater Accra) 9 March, '99

President Jerry John Rawlings today described the late Asantehene Otumfuo Opoku Ware the second as a father who was non-partisan. "He conducted himself with nobility. His death is a great loss to the whole country. I will miss him," he said when a delegation from the Asanteman Council formally informed him of Otumfuo's death and funeral arrangements. The delegation, led by Nana Oduro Numapau, Essumejahene, informed President Rawlings that Otumfuo Opoku Ware, who died almost two weeks ago, would be laid in state for four days beginning March 21. The body would then be taken to St Cyprian Anglican Church, Kumasi, for burial service to be followed by burial. President Rawlings said the Otumfuo meant a lot to many people throughout the country. Therefore, in choosing his successor care must be taken to ensure that the next chief "does not wind back the clock of progress." President Rawlings said chiefs have roles to play in promoting peace and stability in the country to enable the government to go ahead with its development programmes. Therefore, in choosing successors to vacant stools and skins, care must be taken to ensure that candidates were acceptable to the people, otherwise seeds of discord would be sown to disturb the peace. He told the delegation: "we know you are walking a tight rope" and recalled the deaths of certain paramount chiefs recently whose funerals attracted people from all parts of the country. "This is what is unifying us. This is what we must strive to maintain." Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, Adviser to the President on Governmental Affairs, said Otumfuo Opoku Ware was a great man who went to great lengths to maintain peace. "He played a great role in the resolution of the northern conflict and always maintained the dignity of chieftaincy." Mr Nathan Quao, a Presidential Staffer, said of Otumfuo Opoku Ware: "He was humble, modest and a man of peace. He fulfilled his role as a worthy occupant of the Golden Stool." Mr Kofi Totobi Quakyi, Minister of State, said Otumfuo "took us as his children and advised us whenever we called on him. His death is not only a great loss to Ashantis but the whole country." Mrs Cecilia Johnson, a Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, Professor Kofi Awoonor and Professor Patrick Twumasi both Presidential Staffers, all paid glowing tributes to the Otumfuo, describing him as a man of peace. Nana Oduro Numapau said the Otumfuo never dabbled in politics. "He would listen to all sides and preached reconciliation. He was diplomatic."