<<Print>>

The Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has cautioned the chiefs and elders who owe allegiance to the Asante stool, not to hide behind the title �elders� to sell stool lands illegally and involve themselves in other dishonest activities. Speaking through his linguists, he said: �I want to caution that those chiefs who hide behind the title elders and get involve in activities, which results in disputes should desist from it. If such disputes come before me I�ll tell the truth and that will expose them.� He gave the caution during a sitting at the Manhyia Palace, when a number of disputes were brought before him for judgement. One of the cases involved a sub-chief who sold a land he had no right to sell. International Travel writers, local journalists and officials of the Ministry of Tourism, touring parts of the country including the Ashanti Region, as part of the on-going United Nations World Tourism Day, were present at the sitting when Otumfuo gave the caution amidst applause and cheers from his subjects. Otumfuo Osei Tutu told chiefs who misconduct themselves that �your acts today can deny your nephews an opportunity to ascend the throne in the future�. �In the future when your nephew is nominated to be considered for the throne, your acts today could cause the kingmakers to deny him,� he stressed. The delegation, numbering 18, were led by Mr. Kobby Acheampong who presented assorted drinks to the Otumfuo. Ms. Alla Peressolova, Fair and Communications Assistant Officer from the UN World Tourism Organisation, who led the delegation of international travel writers, exchanged pleasantries with the Otumfuo and lauded him and the Asante State for maintaining and refining their traditions over the years. The travel writers also visited the Regional Cultural Centre where they were treated to six dance performances depicting the enstoolment of an Asante King. The performance begun with the Akantam dance, where the Asantehene is sworn in and in turn takes the oath; Akom is when the traditional priest, the Okomfo, gives thanks to the gods on behalf of the newly sworn king. The Kete dance depicted the outdooring of the new Asantehene in white, followed by the Tran dance or a war dance, during which Asantehene wore the �Batakarikese� � the big smock and wielded a gun to assure his subject that they are in safe hands. The new Asantehene then goes on to perform the funeral rites of the chief he succeeded, during which he sat in state with grass in his mouth to depict mourning; after which he holds a durbar where he dresses in colourful Kente cloth and gold ornaments to show that he is now ready to rule the kingdom. The travel writers also visited the Manhyia Museum where the physical items used by past Asantehenes, their statues, portraits, gold ore and many other symbolic items depicting the richness of the Asante culture, were on display. The travel writers took advantage of the durbar to display some few Adowa steps. Some admitted that the visit to the region, and the fun it brought, was an appropriate break from the guilt they felt at the Cape Coast and Elmina slave castles.