Untruths Being Peddled In The Star

I note with dismay the publication of a new story in The Star, subsequently syndicated at: http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=109875 purporting to report on matters arising from a recently launched independent investigation in the Republic of Ghana into narcotic trafficking issues.

Your reporter did not at any stage contact persons intimately involved in this matter, but seemed to have been of the opinion that fabricating evidence and relaying uninformed innuendoes are an acceptable means of journalistic practice. I find the entire article to be without factual merit and calculated to perpetuate the racist-underlined stereotypes of the type western newspapers of The Star's ilk are comfortable with, as it relieves them of the burden of serious research which alone will allow a sufficient familiarity with a vast and complex continent, such as Africa is.

The ''tribal King'' referred to in the article is no doubt His Majesty Otumfou Osei Tutu II, overlord of the eight clans of Ashanti and present dynast of a lineage going back 300 years. That he is the object of your reporter's derision is without question, as one of the ''suspects'' in the ongoing investigation is on record as having claimed an ''acquaintance'' with his Majesty’s Private Secretary.

Please set the records straight by acknowledging to your readers that, contrary to assertions in your article, none of the ''suspects'' is in anyway affiliated to the Ashanti Royal Palace. That, in particular, none of those in any way connected to this episode is a brother-in-law of His Majesty. That the Otumfou has on no occasion publicly commented on the incidents in question, much less stalled any investigations aimed at getting to the heart of the matter. That the crown jewels of the Ashanti clans pre-date the founding of the modern state of Ghana and do not emanate from ''mines sprinkled over'' any Kingdom, in Ashanti or elsewhere.

Asantes, and indeed many Ghanaians, all over the world, feel demeaned, scandalised and assaulted by this calculated calumny The Star prefers to call journalism, and at this stage wonder whether any course remains open to them to salvage the dignity of their culture and ancestral esteem, save of course for comprehensive lawsuits for damages in the Canadian and American Courts.

Yours faithfully,

Felicia Bonsu

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