THE ASANTEHENE Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has condemned the politics of insults which has taken center stage in the country lately, stressing that it is not part of Ghana’s culture.

Otumfuo lamented over situations whereby the young subjected the elderly to insults and verbal lashes in public without justification, indicating that the unpleasant development was not the best for the country.

According to him, the young subjecting the elderly to insults was a foreign culture which was being blindly copied by the youth of today, stressing that the entire country should fight it.

The Asantehene especially implored traditional leaders including chiefs and queenmothers to stand up against foreign culture which was gradually overshadowing the indigenous Ghanaian culture.

Otumfuo made the remarks when the Ghana National Union of Queenmothers paid a courtesy call on him at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on Wednesday where he organized a mini durbar to welcome his visitors.

The Asante King implored traditional leaders to hold firm onto the respective traditions and cultures bequeathed by their forefathers, indicating that under no circumstance should traditional leaders downplay the importance of their culture.

The Asantehene admonished chiefs and queens to play leading roles in the education of the youth, reminding them that they would not be spared should the youth become hoodlums.

Still on the importance of education, Otumfuo said Ghana’s infant democracy could be protected and developed if the larger section of the populace was educated.

He said proper education of the masses would help them understand issues better and accept the verdict of every poll organized in the country, leading to Ghana’s proper growth.

The Asantehene noted that Ghana needed total unity and peace to transform; so he lauded the queenmothers for coming together as one body, to help in the development of their areas.

He described women as very tolerant, patience, loving and understanding, which were essential traits needed for the development of every country, urging women to make themselves available for positions of power to help grow the country.

The Asantehene said God had blessed women with special qualities which if they took full control of, would make them more influential.

He admonished the queenmothers to shun acts such as backbiting and pull-her-down attitudes which would destroy their union and rather urged them to make love, respect for one another and unity, the hallmark of their association.

Otumfuo charged the queenmothers to let their unity reflect in developmental projects in their various communities, stressing that he would be closely monitoring their achievements as a group.

The Okyenhemaa, Nana Adutwumwaa Dokuaa on behalf of the queenmothers thanked the Asantehene for taking time off his tight schedule to meet them at his palace.

She said the King’s advice had been well-noted, promising the Asantehene that they would do their best to play leading roles in the development of the country.

The Okyenhemaa called for Otumfuo’s blessings and continual support for the Ghana National Union of Queenmothers as they kick-start their activities.