The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has sternly cautioned those involving his name in partisan politics to refrain from doing so, stating emphatically that he is not a politician.
Otumfuo said his status as the Asantehene debarred him from engaging in partisan politics, so the populace, especially politicians, should be very careful and stop involving him in their politics.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Lower Manya, Michael Teye Nyaunu, is alleged to have said that the Asantehene has promised to support Nana Konadu should the NDC elect her as flagbearer at congress. Hon. Nyaunu, according to media reports, passed the comments about the Asantehene whilst addressing some delegates of the NDC in Ashaiman.
He was heard confidently claiming the Asantehene had endorsed and pledged his support, as well as that of his kingdom, to the former First Lady’s bid to unseat President Mills as leader of the NDC.
Mr. Nyaunu claimed Otumfuo had told Nana Konadu he would rather support a fellow Asante royal than an Akyem native, playing the ethnic card.
“We were sent to Ashanti Region and we met Otumfuo. When we finished telling him about Nana Konadu’s ambitions, he looked at us in the face and said we didn’t know the name of our candidate properly. ‘Listen, I will tell you your candidate’s name, her name is Nana Konadu Agyemang’ then he (Otumfuo) stopped. ‘She is an Asante and comes from the royal house so we the royals will never leave our daughter in front of a battle like that.
If she goes through the primaries, majority of Asantes will support her and she can win’. “He told us that the Ashantis will vote for an Ashanti woman than for Akyem. So we have also done our homework.
“These are things we didn’t want to bring to the public domain. There are some of the things we are keeping but we are all NDC people here and we must tell you the delegates the truth for you to know why we are standing firmly that Madam should go,” he stated.
The Spokesperson for President Rawlings, Kofi Adams, who was also at the Ashaiman meeting, was heard on the tape claiming that a survey conducted by the opposition NPP showed Mrs. Rawlings, rather than President Mills, would give Nana Akufo-Addo the tougher fight for the presidency.
But in a sharp rebuttal, Otumfuo has stated categorically that he has never said anywhere that he would support any of the candidates contesting the NDC flagbearership.
“The Asantehene, by his status in society, is forbidden from participating in active politics, therefore there is no iota of truth in the rumours being peddled around in the media,” Public Relations Officer of Manhyia Palace Osei Antwi stated.
In an interview with Omanhene of Kessben FM, he said, “The Asantehene doesn’t support any of the numerous political parties in the country including the NPP and NDC.”
Mr. Antwi said Otumfuo supported the government in political power and not political parties, therefore the general public should take note and try not to involve the Asantehene in their politics.
“The Asantehene stands for Ghana smooth development, therefore he will support any government in power irrespective of the party that particular government belongs. “Whether the government is, CPP, NPP, NDC or whatever, the Asantehene will support that particular administration to succeed to better the lives of every Ghanaian,” he said.
Mr. Antwi sternly cautioned politicians to henceforth stop using Otumfuo’s good name to solicit political votes, stressing that the Asantehene was not a politician.
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