An Asante-based advocacy group, Asante Wɔ Dɔm, has cautioned the Paramount Chief of Dormaa, Oseadeayɔ Dr. Agyemang Badu, to desist from what it describes as persistent verbal attacks on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, warning that such conduct could undermine traditional harmony and national cohesion.
The group made its position known during a media engagement held in Kumasi, where members expressed deep concern over recent public comments allegedly attributed to the Dormaahene, which they say seek to diminish the authority, dignity and revered status of the Asantehene within Ghana’s traditional governance system.
According to Asante Wɔ Dɔm, the latest alleged attacks followed Otumfuo Osei Tutu II’s recent visit to the Ghana Police Headquarters, where the Asantehene encouraged officers of the Ghana Police Service to remain professional, impartial and committed to safeguarding peace, law and order across the country. The group stressed that the visit was purely in the national interest and should not be misconstrued, politicised or interpreted as an affront to any traditional authority.
The group further explained that tensions appeared to have escalated after the Inspector-General of Police and members of the Police Administration paid a customary courtesy call on Otumfuo Osei Tutu II during his first Akwasidae festival of the year. They noted that Akwasidae is a culturally significant event within Asanteman, and such engagements are well-established traditional practices. Asante Wɔ Dɔm alleged that the Dormaahene’s discomfort with this engagement has since manifested in public commentary they consider disrespectful, provocative and divisive.
Addressing the media, the President of Asante Wɔ Dɔm, Dr. Seth Okyere, described the alleged remarks as unfortunate and unnecessary, cautioning that continued attacks on the Asantehene risk straining long-standing traditional relations and threatening national unity. He appealed to key stakeholders, including the President of the Republic, the Inspector-General of Police and the Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, to intervene swiftly to forestall any escalation of tensions.
Dr. Okyere also raised concerns about reported incidents at the Abesim lorry terminal, where commercial drivers displaying images of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and Asanteman flags are allegedly being harassed. He warned that such actions, if not addressed promptly, could provoke avoidable confrontations and disrupt public order.
In addition, the Asante Wɔ Dɔm President used the platform to call on the government to continue and complete abandoned development projects initiated by the previous administration, with particular emphasis on the Suame Interchange, which he described as critical to easing traffic congestion and boosting economic activity in the Kumasi metropolis.
Several members of Asante Wɔ Dɔm who also addressed the gathering echoed the call for restraint, dialogue and mutual respect among traditional leaders. They urged all parties involved to prioritise peace and allow appropriate state institutions to address the matter in a manner that promotes unity, stability and coexistence.
The group reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to defending the dignity and integrity of the Asantehene, while emphasising that it will continue to pursue peaceful and lawful means in addressing traditional and national disputes in the interest of Ghana’s peace and development.
