Mamponghene, once the Registrar at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), then going by the name Gyimah Kese, alias Saint, owes Kumawuman citizens an unreserved apology. His actions and pronouncements at an Asanteman Council meeting held a few months ago, were an affront to the intelligence and dignity of the noble, although poor, citizens of Kumawuman.

What is meant by a Registrar, one may ask in an attempt to better understand how learned Mamponghene is? A registrar is “an officer of an educational institution responsible for registering students, keeping academic records, and corresponding with applicants and evaluating their credentials or an administrative official responsible for student records, enrolment procedure, etc., in a school, college, or university”

Going by his job description, Mamponghene is indeed highly educated. Does he, by his qualification and job as a registrar and currently the paramount chief of the Mampong division, have the right to castigate the people of Kumawu arrogantly as he did in the Asanteman Council meeting?

He insinuated that Kumawu citizens in this modern world are blatantly refusing to accept a highly educated person to rule them? How he stubbornly carried across his message is suggestive of Kumawuman citizens being stupid to not knowing what is good for them.

Following from his indirect insults heaped on the good people of Kumawu, I shall entreat him to apologise to them. Additionally, he should note that “one man’s meat is another man’s poison”. Has Mamponghene asked himself how the educated person that he supports to be enthroned as Kumawuhene, was going to find money to settle the debts he has incurred bribing the kingmakers? How was he going to purchase the promised luxury cars to each of the four kingmakers? Is his candidate that rich enough to settle everything from his own pocket without dipping into the Kumawu Stool funds? If he was going to freely avail himself of Kumawuman funds, as did his uncle, the late Barima Asumadu Sakyi II, a highly educated person, then Mamponghene should keep his education antic to himself.

Kumawuman, especially Kumawu township, has suffered real dilapidation owing to an act of pure negligence. Our traditional leaders never lived up to expectation even though the Omanhene was highly educated.

If one starts offering bribes within the region as established at the Asanteman Council sitting where alias SAINT, a prominent member of the Council, revealed how cars would be distributed, amid insulting Kumawuman people as stated earlier, then eyebrows will be raised. People may decide to go for a less educated but honest and sincere person who will prudently use the resources of Kumawuman to the benefit of the suffering poor masses, but not to use it to induce a few kingmakers and their broader unknown accomplices.

I will delve into Mamponghene’s attempts to slur the good people of Kumawuman, at the appropriate time. I hope he will swallow his pride and finally apologise as advised. “A stitch in time saves nine”

Rockson Adofo