Open Letter to the President of The Concerned Youth of Ashanti(CYA)

Dear The President of CYA,

Following the on air interview you granted to a radio station in the wake of the recent public outburst by Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II against the NPP Government, I have been compelled to write this open letter to you. In the interview which I listened to directly online from my smart phone, you made certain tangible statements which attracted both my attention and curiosity to want to have better clarifications about them.

You are one Dr Agyenim Boateng, the president of the supposed organization called The Concerned Youth of Ashanti. Could you please, if possible, elaborate to me and other interested persons the aims and objectives of your organization? When was it formed and who are the founding members? How are interested persons enrolled as members of the organization and where is the office of the organization located in Kumasi or whichever area in Ashanti Region? Is the membership limited only to those of Ashanti background coming from anywhere in the Ashanti region or just those from Kumasi?

Anyway, in the course of your interview, you made mention of there being only one King in Ghana who is recognised by the Ghana Constitution and he is Asantehene. Going forward, you delved into your historical knowledge of the people of Ashanti; how Ashanti existed before Gold Coast and how Ashantis did not need the Gold Coast, now Ghana, but the Gold Coast needed the Ashantis. Am I right? You further said that there is nothing like Okyehene as per the Constitution and the Chieftaincy Act, 2008 (Act No. 759). “Act No. 759 was to revise and consolidate the Chieftaincy, 1971 (Act 370) to bring its provisions in conformity with the Constitution and to provide for related matters”. However, there are three principalities within the Akyem area with each having their own paramount chief. They are Akyem Kotoku, Akyem Bosome and Akyem Abuakwa. Therefore, there is no overall principal chief or King in the Akyem area unlike in Asanteman. While Asantehene occupies the Golden Stool you claim to have descended from the sky, the three Akyem chiefs occupy Black Stools made for them by their father, Asantehene. There are no people called Akyems and Akyem State does not exist because they all once migrated from the Ashantiland, you said.

I am not disputing your assertions. I have great interest in the assertions you’ve made which you believe same to be true. Do you and your group indeed uphold the Ghana Constitution and the Chieftaincy Act, 2008 (Act No. 759) in high esteem? I doubt it! Without being aware of your group’s aim and objectives, whether they are for the collective interests of the Ashantis or just a supporting mouthpiece to defend the occupant of the Golden Stool, there is not much that I can say or ask. However, your citation of the Constitution and the Chieftaincy Act to buttress your contention that there is only one King in Ghana is more than enough for me to ask you the following questions.

1. Do you know much about the formation, abolition and restoration of the Asante Confederacy which is now Asanteman Council?

2. Do you know the role of Asantehene within the Asante Confederacy since its restoration in 1935?

3. Do you know anything about the document signed in 1938 by the Ashanti chiefs confirming that the land in Ashanti belongs to the various chiefs occupying them?

4. Do you know that no Asantehene has authority over Kumawu and that they cannot decide or interfere in the affairs of Kumawu as regards who becomes the paramount chief of the Kumawu traditional area, etc.?

5. Do you know that the installation of Kumawuhene or the nomination, selection and election of any royal to become Kumawu chief-elect does not take place at the Manhyia Palace?

6. Do you understand the word, and place, Manhyia and how it came into being?

7. Have you ever heard about Kumawuhene Tweneboa Kodua I who sacrificed his life for the betterment of the Asante Confederacy and the demands he made of the Confederacy prior to, and subsequent upon which agreement, he did offer himself as a sacrificial lamb to save Asanteman from the fury of, and the war waged by, the powerful Denkyirahene Nana Ntim Gyakari?

8. Do you know that Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has cunningly imposed one Dr Yaw Sarfo on Kumawuman as their Omanhene to the annoyance of the subjects of Kumawu traditional area?

9. Do you know that Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II is dubiously availing himself of Kumawu stool lands contrary to the conventions of Kumawu and Asanteman?

10. Do you know that what transpired at Manhyia Palace during the staged election and imposition of one Dr Yaw Sarfo on Kumawu on 24 February 2014 as their chief-elect, was contrary to the tenets of both the Constitution and the Chieftaincy Act, 2008 (Act 759) that you are citing in defence of Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and in justification of his outburst against the NPP Government? Do you know that what happened there was an infringement on the Ghana Criminal Code 1960 (Act 29), the traditions and custom of Kumawu and in breach of the 1992 Ghana Constitution?

Would you please familiarise yourself with the contents of the underlying cited web link to better explain the questions I have posed to you and your group?

Serving Notice Of My Intention To Organise Peaceful Protests With Regard To The Kumawu Chieftaincy Dispute

I hope you are not using your group to advance the purposeful intimidation of the government by the Asante “Overlord” Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. Additionally, bear in mind that Ghana is a democratic country but no longer a monarchy.

Yours truly,

Rockson Adofo