NDC Denies Leaking Otumfuo Video

The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has adamantly parried away suggestions that activists of the party were behind the leaked video recording in which President John Mahama and the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, were captured dancing to Daddy Lumba's 'Yentie obiara' song at a ceremony in Kumasi recently.

Individuals and groups, including the Ashanti Youth for Development, have blamed top government officials and NDC activists for orchestrating the leak and posting of the video on social media, demanding an apology to the Asante king.

According to the group's spokesperson, Kwame Owusu, the video could only have been recorded and circulated by NDC functionaries and officials who had the privilege to be at the function.

But the party's Ashanti Regional Secretary, Raymond Tandoh, in a sharp rebuttal, said the allegation was untrue, insisting that no member of the NDC was involved.

He described the claims as 'outrageous' and said the NDC learned of the video on social media platforms.  'That is false, patently untrue. Nobody and no one in the NDC at the function was involved in this leaked video in any way,' Mr Tandoh told  DAILY GUIDE .

He stated that the NDC had great respect for the Asantehene and his position in the country, and would not do anything to ridicule him on or off the record.

The leaked video appeared to have ruffled feathers, thereby attracting mixed feelings and reactions from Ghanaians across the globe.

President John Mahama broke his silence on the video when the NDC held its national delegates' congress in Kumasi in December last year.

Otumfuo is said to be unhappy about the leaked video which the President's bodyguard was also seen recording.

The king was seen happily dancing with the President in the video footage that was circulated on various social media platforms.

It was captured after President Mahama had commissioned the refurbished Kumasi Airport to enable night flights to and from Kumasi.

Just as the discussion about the appropriateness of the video was dying down, the Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, Joseph Yammin, rekindled the debate by chiding the people, including some chiefs close to the Otumfuo, for the leakage.

At an NDC function at Adansi Asokwa, Mr Yammin was reportedly unhappy about the leakage of the video tape and indicated his resolve as well as that of others to fight for the Asantehene, if Ashanti chiefs would not.

From Ernest Kofi Adu, Kumasi