The presidency has called on Ghanaians to disregard social media claims that President Akufo-Addo is secretly offering support to the Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, in what has been described by several analysts and commentators as the Dormaahene’s attack on The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who is far more superior traditional ruler than the Dormaahene.
In a post on his Facebook Wall, posted today, Friday, 5 January 2023, the Director of Communications at the seat of Ghana’s presidency, Eugene Arhin, said the claims by certain social media users are at best frivolous, false, unsubstantiated, and ought to be ignored by all well-meaning Ghanaians.
“Kindly disregard commentary being made on social media to the effect that the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is “supporting the Dormaahene” to, as it were, “attack the Asantehene”. These are warped figments of some people’s imaginations, and the general public is implored to treat them with the contempt that they deserve” Arhin’s post read.
“Indeed, on no occasion has President Akufo-Addo held a secret meeting with the Dormaahene to, as it were, prop him up to disrespect the Asantehene. No such thing has happened, and no such thing will ever happen. President Akufo-Addo, as he has done since his assumption of office on 7th January 2020, enjoys fruitful working relations with all Chiefs, and will continue to do so until the end of his mandate in January 2025” the Facebook post further read.
Chieftaincy Minister Stephen Asamoah Boateng, on 21 December 2023, urgently called on the National House of Chiefs to intervene in the escalating tensions between The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and Dormaahene Oseadeyo Agyemang Badu II.
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and Dormaahene Oseadeyo Agyemang Badu II, have been engaged in a back-and-forth lately with the Dormaahene who chairs the Bono Regional House of Chiefs recently announcing the suspension of the Berekum Traditional Council from its activities.
He cites the injunction that restrained him from attending the final funeral rites of the late chief of Berekum, Daasebre Dr Amankona Diawuo II, paving the way for the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to make a trip to the town to mourn the late chief.
Reacting to the development, Asamoah Boateng appealed to the House to resolve the current impasse, revealing that it adds to the numerous chieftaincy cases currently pending before his outfit. He expressed concerns that the current impasse between the two revered traditional rulers may affect the peace in the country.
The minister stated, “There are serious issues that if we don’t tackle head-on, could lead to serious troubles… We have managed to resolve 38 chieftaincy cases; however, I must be quick to admit that the pending number of cases numbering about 477, leaves much to be desired.”
He openly admitted that the public impasse between Nananom, especially the Dormaahene and the Asantehene, “is not helping collective efforts and appealed to intensify ongoing dialogue to bring calmness and resolve issues behind closed doors.”
Reporting by Wilberforce Asare in Accra
