I am not NDC – Asantehene

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has dismissed rumours that he is a member of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), saying he is a Ghanaian and a father figure for his kinsmen.

He said he was neither a member nor an appendage of a particular group of people but was interested in the well-being of every Ghanaian and the advancement of the country.

The Asantehene, who was addressing a group of chiefs and elders of the Ashanti Kingdom on his return from South Africa, said each of the two main political parties, the NDC and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) had occasionally accused him of belonging to either of the groups, but he would not be bothered by such utterances.

Speaking in Twi, the Asantehene indicated that when it suited either of the two, they would want to identify themselves with his kingdom and vice versa.

He said he had worked successfully with all past Presidents from the days of Jerry Rawlings through to the current government and would continue to play his fatherly role in the interest of Ghana.

Calming nerves

Otumfuo Osei Tutu calmed the nerves of the people of Agogo and Old Tafo and promised to protect his kinsmen and resolve the conflicts in the two areas.

He did not indicate how soon he would take action but gave an assurance that he would not remain unconcerned and watch the people in his kingdom being killed.
The Asantehene said he would institute his own mechanisms and initiative to end the conflicts, but did not state which form these would take.

Agogo

The people of Agogo were all clad in mourning cloths last Sunday as Ghana marked her 59th Independence anniversary, in protest against the continuous killing of their people by Fulani herdsmen.

In spite of the deployment of both police and military men in the area, the people of Agogo complain of the murder of their people, especially women, most of whom are also raped before being killed.

Old Tafo

At Old Tafo, a group of irate Muslim youth, incensed by the demolition of a wall to protect their cemetery, attacked the chief of the town, leading to the death of one person.

The conflict arising from the attack has led to the imposition of an 8pm. to 4a.m. curfew which has impeded movement of people and business activities.