Nana Akuoku Sarpong Fires Back

Nana Akuoku Sarpong, Omanhene of the Agogo traditional area, in the Ashanti Region, has said he would never do anything to undermine the authority of the Asantehene, and that for the 30 years he has been on the Agogo throne he has rather been working for the advancement of Asanteman.

Reacting to a front page story in yesterday's issue, in which he was accused of doing acts to sabotage the efforts of the Asantehene, and for that matter Asanteman, in a telephone conversation today, the Agogohene explained that, though he spoke to the editor of the paper about the allegation, the story, as carried by the paper, did not put out his full input.

Nana said he had arranged an interview with the editor of the paper, which was to have taken place today, and therefore he was shocked by the publication, as it did not give his side on the issue fully.

According to him, there were people who wanted to set him against the Asantehene, but those people would fail, as he was sure the Asante overlord would not buy what he described as the lies about him.

He said he had sworn the great oath to the Asantehene and would therefore not go back on his words to do anything to bring a curse on his head.

Nana pointed out that the Asantehene was aware of his numerous development efforts, including his latest move to woo investors to Ashanti, as well as his re-afforestation programmes mapped out for his area and the rest of the Ashanti region.

According to Nana, he recently addressed the Asanteman Council and therefore he was surprised to learn from the publication that he had 'rebelled' against the Asantehene.

He maintained his stand that he had helped many journalists in this country, including Osbert Lartey, the editor of the Vanguard.

"I therefore don't understand why any one would link me with publications in a newspaper, simply because of that," Nana Akuoku said.

He explained that it was rather he who warned Ken Kuranchie, the editor of the Searchlight, to be careful when he started with the publication of seemingly disparaging pieces on Asanteman, but found the man uncontrollable.

The Agogohene reaffirmed his allegiance to the Golden Stool saying, it was because of his political links with the PNDC, that was why he was being branded anti-Asante.