Audio Attachment:Listen to Kweku Baako Jnr. on Peace FM's 'kokrokoo' |
Abdul Malik Kweku Baako has vowed not to kneel before the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, even though he has great respect for the revered monarch.
Describing him as a wise ruler, the seasoned journalist stated that he will never go to the extent of going on his knees before him, stressing it's his personal choice.
Speaking to host Kwami Sefa Kayi, the Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide, was emphatic that Ghana's constitution doesn't recognize the mornach system and that his decision not to kneel down before the Asantehene is "not to show disrespect to the King" but it's just a "matter of choice" which is his idiosyncratic right.
He however stressed he has no qualms if another person will pay homage to the King by kneeling because he personally reveres him (Asantehene) and so the part where he will not go on his knees is to exercise his human right as enshrined in the constitution.
"This country is a Republic. Those who chose to pacify the Asantehene Otumfuo by kneeling down; they’re entitled to that. That was their own choice. Kweku Baako won't do that. Of cause not…what are you talking about? I won’t do that! I’m not a coward and I speak my mind. Anybody out there is entitled to disagree with me, but I’ll speak my mind", he asserted.
His submissions comes on the heels of a recent incident where some top executives of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) went to the Manhyia Palace and knelt before the King to plead with him.
The Asantehene is said to have expressed concerns about the attitude of some members of the party to pitch him against the Okyehene and Akyems, which necessitated the action by the party's executives who reportedly begged the King for clemency.
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
I can bet with great confidence that if today Asantehene publicly dances highlife with bigwigs of the NDC and declares his full support for same and even bears all cards of the NDC and flies with the presidential Jet to South Africa. Ashanti Region will continue to be the World Bank of the NPP. I am indeed a pure Ashanti and if Asantehene wants to know his full length, just to borrow the phrase of Supreme Court Judge Atubiga, he can challenge my bet to see who wins.
Kwaku, you've over the years built an enviable reputation as seasoned Journalist. You speak the truth to power without fear nor favor and I respect you for that. Your gauge on public reaction was accurate;folks sensitivity and sensibility are affected. You shouldn't have weigh in on this at all. I have my own reservation about Otumfuo concerning series of allegations and scandals under his watch and how it's affecting the reputation of the Kingdom. This is a hard truth, but sadly most Ashantis are reluctant to address it;they follow their chiefs blindly and it's unfortunate. The issue is arguably trivial and Otumfuo shouldn't have address it in the first place.
You can't force people to respect, rather, respect is reciprocal, reactional in nature and mutual. Reflecting your virtues in the society but it transcends borders. And above all, you have to earn it by virtue of those good attributions in the society. But if you were a King and you didn't account for funds you had raised on behalf your subjects and they always heard bad news about you, then you didn't deserve that respect. Gold got missing in hotels, dubious financial transaction and what have you. Asem s€ b€!
IF YOU FORGET THE SOUND-BEAT OF YOUR VILLAGE,YOU GET LOST IN THE MIDST OF A CONGREGATION...By the way who is and where IS kwaku baako (I ignore to begin his name with a capital letter because it is not in any clause in our constitution to do that) from? Is he Abdul Malik from the north or kweku baako from the south? I don't think he knows his identity. You are forcing yourself to be a torchbearer but you are a blind and daf*t one.Every tribe in the whole world has its tradition just like we the ASHANTIS,and bowing to greet and kneeling to beg/plead to our elders,chiefs and our GREAT KING is also part of it. THE ASHANTI KINDOM stretches through many of the regions in Ghana and even in the Volta region. ASHANTI KINDOM also stretches through some parts in the Ivory coast.ASHANTIS ARE NOT FORCING ANYONE TO WORSHIP OUR KING BECAUSE WE ARE THERE TO DO IT BY OURSELVES .Remember,IF you go to Rome,you do what the Romans do,so,,,DON'T VENTURE to be arog**ant in the presence of our GREAT KING otherwise you will need to borro*w a second hea*d on your neck before you can get back home. We are what we are. kwaku baako has just d*rawn the b*attleline.We the ASHANTIS are already aware of the hat*red many of the tribes have for us,but we are only focused on the development of our KINDOM and the country at large. We can have a referendum today to isol*ate the ASHANTIS from the Ghana map and we can survive because before the British stepped their foot on our land,there was the ASHANTI empire. I rest my case. A word to the wise is enough. CH.,ITALY.
It's interesting the controvesy between traditional rulers and our system of government seems to have reared its ***barred word*** head once again. Regardless of how we look at it, we cannot run away from the inherent benefit of this wonderful parallel system of government, monarchical and presidential. Almost every region, town or village has their chiefs, elders and as such traditional system as well as their assemblymen, parliamentarians etc. Well, not so fast we also have Churches, mosques where we have pastors, imams and other leaders in our society. More so we have educational institutions where we have lecturers, teachers etc. Is there confusion in paying homage to occupants or leaders of these institutions? Well, the answer depends on whom you ask. I think we as a nation need to debate the rightful place of institutional, traditional, governmental and academic leaders so as not to make them irrelevant in the public space as we all agree they are important in our civic discuss. It is unfortunate and disheartening when we pick on our traditional leaders and vehemently disagree on the mode of paying homage to such leaders. This is because both institutional and traditional leaders complement each other. So that much as Kweku will not bow down to a King of his land, or decide to make noise in Accra during the 'homowo' season, similarly, Smith does not acknowledge the importance of the dictates of the constitution. Both are exercising their inherent rights as individuals. The problem only arises when one accuses the other of contravening the law. One that does not exist for either Kwaku or Smith. So in this situation, Kwaku will have to judge Smith based on his constitutional rights whilst Smith judges the conduct of Kwaku based on his traditions rights. But both Smith and Kwaku can coexist in fact...
The word is “ÙŠÈŁEŠS”!!!
I am giving Kwaku a standing ovation! I respect you for calling a spade a spade. I really wonder why this chief even decided to give credence to this ***barred word*** rumour. He has disappointed me big time. Allow Nana Addo to make Ghana great again. He doesn’t need these distractions.
I don’t normally agree with Kweku on some of his assertions. But on this particular isuuse I DO AGREE WITH HIM IN TOOTI. The Asantehene has no constitutional powers just a figure head like an chief in Ghana
ALL OF THESE STARTED BECOS OF ASANTEHENE.HOW ON EARTH CAN ONE SIT IN HIS PALACE IN KUMASI AND SAY THAT,SOMEONE IS PITCHING HIM AGAINST AKYEMHENE?THEN JUST PICK ON GABBY AND BEDEATOU JUST BECOS THEY ARE AKYEMS FOR SUCH AN ACT?FIRST OF ALL,THERE IS NO PROOF IN WIRTTING OR VIDEO.IT MEANS HE WAS GOSSIPING WITH SOMEONE,AND A SANTEHENE DECIDED TO BELIEVE WHAT EVER THAT PERSON SAID.OR IT IS PLOY TO MAKE NANA ADDO SACK BEDEATUO AND PICK AN ASANTE IN OTHER TO MAKE THEIR PLANS OF POISONING NANA ADDO VERY EASY FOR THEM.IT WILL NEVER WORK!ALL THAT WE KNOW IS ASANTEHENE IS AN ASANTE KING,SO HE SHOULD RULE OVER THEM,BUT HE TRYING VERY HARD TO USE DYBOLICAL TACTICS TO PUSH PEOPLE TO COME AND BEG HIM IS UNCALLED FOR.ASANTES ARE NOT THE ONLY TRIBE THAT PARTAKE IN VOTING IN THIS COUNTRY.WE RESPECT HIM AS THE KING OF ASANTES,BUT TRYING TO RUN OVER EVERYBODY,THAT ONE WE WILL ALL RESIST WITH OUR MIGHT.
As for These blacks even if you instal a PIG as their chief they will religiously worship it so what's you beef