Pratt Hits Hard At Asantehene: Advise Yourself First Instead Of Dagombas
The Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr, has waded into the Tuobodomanhene / Techimanhene / Asantehene fray by issuing a rather terse note of caution to the Asantehene asking him to be circumspect in his utterances.
Mr. Pratt strongly believes that much as the action by the Techimanhene, Oseadeeyo Ameyaw Akumfi IV, deserves outright condemnation, the statement by the Asantehene was unbecoming of a great king, who is highly regarded in the country, more so when he is mediating in the Dagbon Chieftaincy dispute.
According to him, the action by the two statesmen has desecrated the chieftaincy institution in the country.
"It's about time our chiefs were made to understand that Ghana does not belong to them...those days of the 'ahenfie police' severing off people's heads for wronging a king are past. We are in 2010. Our chiefs, should permit me to say, reason carefully before taking decisions," he crossly said.
On Friday, March 5th, some unidentified heavily built men alighted from a white Ford bus with registration number AW 2873 Z, and in Rambo style, kidnapped the Chief of Tuobodom, Nana Asare Baffour II, who owes allegiance to the Asantehene, and sent him to the Techimanhene's palace, where he was allegedly physically assaulted.
The incident occurred whiles the Wenchi High Court was in session.
The inaction by the police and the lack of proactiveness by the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs in settling the dispute incurred the displeasure of Otumfuo Osei Tutu.
The visibly angry 16th occupant of the Golden Stool, at the press conference yesterday questioned why the actions of the Techimanhene have not received outright condemnation and the rather long silence over the issue by the appropriate quarters.
The Asantehene thereby issued an ultimatum to government to make its position clear and threatened that, should the appropriate agencies fail to call the Techimanhene to order, he (the Asantehene) will "arrest him just as a hawk grabs a hen, if the Techimanhene dares travel through Kumasi."
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