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Opinions of Saturday, 7 February 2015

Columnist: Adofo, Rockson

Is Asantehene Now Awakening to the NDC Government Policy of Discrimination Against Ashantis?

Wonders indeed will never cease. What does Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, a nicknamed King Solomon, but who has persistent difficulty with taking Solomonic decisions, mean by his recent public castigations of the President Mahama NDC government? All his seeming care for Ashantis, as expressed in his thoughtless statement made on Saturday 31 January 2015 amounts only to pulling a public stunt on Ashantis. I find it so funny that each time it passes my mind, I laugh my head off.

Find below an extract from a publication on Ghanaweb.com of Monday 2 February 2015 as sourced from the Daily Guide newspaper. "With a grim face, the Asantehene disclosed that he had in recent times received several complaints and reports about how people with Asante extraction were being discriminated against on the job market, even though they had the requisite qualifications. "Asantes are crying over neglect by the NDC government," Otumfuo lamented during a durbar of chiefs and people of Asanteman at the forecourt of the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on Saturday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Asante Confederacy. The Asantehene stated emphatically that if indeed the reports and the complaints that he had been receiving were authentic, then he would not accept them, stating that his people had done no wrong to merit such a discriminatory treatment by the NDC"

Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II must not continually seek to underestimate the intelligence of the Ashantis. For how long is he going to tax our patience, taking the noble Ashantis for fools? I have been highlighting on the plight of Ashantis under the NDC party since they were voted into power in 2008. Below are links to some of my publications in which the seeming positive discrimination against the Ashantis by the NDC government was mentioned.

http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/features/artikel.php?ID=234317 (Suppression of Ashantis under the NDC government (30 March 2012) http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/features/artikel.php?ID=301450 (23 February 2014) http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/features/artikel.php?ID=340175 (24 December 2014) http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/features/artikel.php?ID=316293 (12 July 2014) http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/features/artikel.php?ID=307957 (3 May 2014) http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/features/artikel.php?ID=293880 (3 December 2013)

He is only coming out to say he cares about Ashantis, his subjects, but he does not. He is just pretending. Whoever wants, may read the website links provided above. If he cared, he would have addressed the problem long ago, knowing President Mahama with whom he danced to the "Yen ntie obiaa" rendition by Daddy Lumba is his best buddy.

It is an open secret that he helped President Mahama ascend to the presidency and therefore, he could obtain whatever he wants from him as soon as he makes a request to him. Selfish as he is, he hasn't. He is now coming out to fool the Ashantis as if he cares.

Now that Kumawuman citizens have taken him on, he is seeking the help of Ashantis to save himself from shame and his reign from collapsing like a pack of cards. The only thing that can save him at this critical moment is not the fantasies he is coming out with, but being realistically honest, sincere, and ceasing to arrogate to himself powers of which he has no mandate.

Calling on Ashantis and the other Asanteman Amanhene (paramount chiefs) to rally to his defence, protect the unity of Asanteman in the name of the Golden Stool (the symbol of unity), won't wash unless he changes his bad behaviours of always seeking to exploit others to the hilt. He has no business doing in Kumawu affairs. Therefore, he MUST keep his hands off the lands, the money and their chieftaincy issues.

Asantehene has been very much aware of the problems faced by Ashantis under the NDC government but he never gave a hoot until Kumawuman people boldly declared their stance against his despotism.

I shall publish a response to the radio interview granted by one of Asantehene's novices and bootlickers calling himself "Sika dwa Kofi ba". I wonder how until now, upon all my publications citing laws and making references to legal documents and other relevant books, this minor Kumasi sub-chief calling himself "Sika dwa Kofi ba", still chooses to live in utter ignorance. Does he understand the Asantemaan Council and the rules regulating its existence? I do not think he does or else, he would not have conducted himself so irresponsibly on air.

He who plays with Kumawuman will have a bloody noise, for that I can assure Ghanaians. We need justice! The only way Asanteman can be held together is there being justice and respect for one another, but not telling lies with intent to exploit others.

He who cares to know why God has empowered me to take such an unfaltering stance against Asantehene should read the following quotation from Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, "Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph".

I have chosen not to let Asantehene's evil triumph over Kumawuman citizens. A WORD TO THE WISE IS ENOUGH.

Rockson Adofo