Ohene Agyekum Dodges Otumfuo

FOR FEAR of being reprimanded by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II for invoking the Antoa deity to kill his political opponents, the Ashanti regional chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Daniel Ohene Agyekum could not accompany former President Rawlings to pay a courtesy call on the Asantehene at the Manhyia Palace on Wednesday.

Mr. Agyekum, ideally, should have led the former president to the Manhyia Palace.

Those present at the palace were surprised to learn that Mr. Agyekum was not part of the delegation, though sources said he was intown.

Sources close to the Asantehene hinted DAILY GUIDE that had Ohene Agyekum accompanied Mr. Rawlings to the palace Otumfuo would have slapped him on the wrist for disregarding his orders to the effect that no one in the region should invoke the powers of deities to curse people.

It would be recalled that recently Mr. Agyekum stunned the whole nation when in the full glare of the media, he took a bottle of Schnapps, three eggs and other ritual materials to invoke the spirit of 'Antoa Nyamaa' and 30 other deities in the Ashanti region to kill some members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Subin constituency in Kumasi and some staff of the DAILY GUIDE.

Following that action, members of the public descended heavily on him and called on the Asantehene to call Mr. Agyekum to order.

Fortunately for the NDC regional boss, he did not receive Otumfuo's bashing because the Asantehene was out of the country.

Mr. Agyekum, in defense of his action, had argued that he did not know the Ashanti overlord had banned the invocation of deities against people in the region.

Following Mr. Agyekum's outmoded act, the NDC is now being branded as the 'National Duabo Congress' in the Ashanti region, particularly Kumasi.

Interestingly, since the NDC capo invoked the curse, people in the metropolis have been referring to eggs as 'Ohene Agyekum'.

Accompanying Mr. Rawlings to the Manhyia Palace were Mr. Kwame Bonsu, deputy national chairman of the party; Hon. Collins Dauda, the party's Member of Parliament (MP) for Asutifi South in the Brong Ahafo region; Mrs. Joana Appiah Dwomoh, former deputy Ashanti regional minister; Mr. Kofi Adams, special aide to former President Rawlings, as well as other party activists.

Mr. Rawlings is back in the region to continue his campaign for the NDC.

From Morgan Owusu & Fred J.A Ibrahim Jnr. Kumasi