Hear the other side of the story, ye those threatening Twene Jonas and Ohene David with murder or abduction

Since a Ghanaian youngster, Twene Jonas, residing in the United States of America started his vituperations against certain important personalities in Ghana, principally among whom is Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, some sympathisers of his victims have emerged all over the world to condemn him. Some of them, especially those supportive of Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, unflinchingly holding him in absolute reverence, have threatened to either deport him from the USA to face Asantehene, or ensure he is murdered spiritually or physically.

Those hoping to deal mercilessly with Twene Jonas and Ohene David, should they ever corner them anywhere, assert that these two young men have completely no right under the Sun, the moon and the stars, to question the integrity of Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. Among them are chiefs who have resorted to their river gods and fetishes to perform traditional rituals, invocations of the powers of the gods to strike dead these two individuals for being excessively insolent towards Asantehene, the occupant of the revered Golden Stool.

They question the source of these two individuals’ power. They wonder how on earth they could treat Asantehene of all powerful chiefs like a dirty eyesore rag not even worth rubbing one’s dirty feet on. If it were in the olden days, the two young men and their entire families would be wiped off the face of the earth through decapitation, they claim. Nobody could dare do what the young men are doing in the olden days and hope to live, say the blind sycophantic supporters of chiefdom, especially, Asantehene.

The above is just one side of the story. There is therefore the need to listen to the other side of the story to make an informed judgment. Any credible judge who is fair and firm, and worth his/her salt, does listen to the complaints and arguments by both the complainant and the defendant before rendering their judgment.

The other side of the story, which is equally true and did prevail simultaneously in the same olden days goes as following;

Any paramount chief or Asantehene who gravely misconducted themselves, bringing disgrace upon their jurisdiction, was sent to their early grave or was destooled. The elders in those days had a way of dealing with such Asantehene to restore the proud image and integrity of Asante Kingdom. Any doubting Thomas can find out from the elders of Ashanti, be they, chiefs, family or clan heads.

The following Asantehenes were forced to abdicate for various reasons.

1. Otumfuo Nana Kusi Oboadum - 1750–1764

2. Otumfuo Nana Kofi Karikari - 8 May 1867 – 26 October 1874

3. Otumfuo Nana Mensa Bonsu - 1874–8 March 1883

Is it not for specific reasons that Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has come under attack by the mentioned young man ? Is it not for a good reason that I do take him on? Has he not b somehow been acting irresponsibly, a behaviour unacceptable by the occupants of the Golden Stool? While the chiefs in the olden days protected their environment for the wellbeing of their subjects both living and yet unborn, protecting the lands and respecting the subjects in reciprocity to their obeisance to him, what do we see under the current Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II? Is he not doing things very opposite to the good things his predecessors did?

As every action demands equilibrium reaction, could the attacks on Asantehene not caused by his desire to reap from where he has not sown; selling and destroying Ashanti lands, watching nonchalantly while Kumasi is engulfed in rubbish with many people dying from preventable illnesses? If he decides to interfere in say, Kumawu chieftaincy affairs, forcing a compromised royal on Kumawu as their Omanhene and robbing Kumawuman of hundreds of thousands of hectares of their stool land, watching as lame duck when the water bodies, arable lands and forests in Asanteman are witnessing the wanton destruction of such sources of life.

Under such situations, how do you expect the youth to react towards Asantehene and his colleagues? Your guess is as right as Ohene David’s or Twene Jonas’. Should he cease his actions deemed utterly wrong, if not irresponsible, and abuse of power, many of Ohene David and Twene Jonas will arise,

Rockson Adofo

Sunday, 06 June 2021