Nana Addo and Otumfuo Osei Tutu II
OTUMFUO OSEI Tutu II, the Asantehene, has disclosed that Nana Akufo-Addo, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate, was once his personal lawyer.
According to him, Nana Akufo-Addo used to offer free legal services to him (Otumfuo) some years ago when he had not ascended the Golden Stool.
Otumfuo recounted, “Akufo-Addo is my lawyer. I want all of you here to listen. I used to go to court with him, at a time he was not involved in frontline politics, and when I was not a chief. He never charged me a pesewa for the cases he did for me. We even sat in the same car most of the time.”
The Asantehene also pointed out, “The tradition out of which the NPP was born hailed from the Manhyia Palace. The financing of the party was also done by Manhyia, leading it to what it has become today. Baffuor Akoto, the leader of the National Liberation Movement, was even ‘sacrificed’ for the cause.”
He stated that the 4th Republic, which brought about partisan politics, had not been born at the time Nana Akufo-Addo worked for him.
The Asante monarch was addressing a mammoth crowd, including chiefs and politicians who jammed the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, last Thursday.
This was when the NPP leader, who is on a five-day campaign tour of the region, paid a courtesy call on him.
“As a chief, all I am fighting for is education for all the school going children, quality and affordable healthcare for my people, good roads for the communities and jobs for my young men and women. The good of Ghana and of my people is what I am after. I am after one who will come and work for my people.”
The Asantehene disclosed that two weeks ago, President Mahama also called on him as part of his ‘accounting to the people’ tour, and he urged him (president) to also “account to the people for all the things he promised to do which he could not achieve, as well as account for all the things he has done. I also asked him to tell the people of Ghana what he would do for them if they gave him another term in office.”
To the NPP flagbearer, he stated, “It is the same thing I am also telling you. As you are campaigning, I am closely monitoring what you are saying and the policies you are outlining to the people. What I am happy about is that you have assured Asanteman that you are going to add on to the successes chalked by President Kufuor. Wherever your campaign takes you to, take your time and outline the various interventions you will put in place to ensure access to education, healthcare, good roads and jobs.”
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II also told Nana Akufo-Addo that in the course of the campaign, he should to tell Ghanaians what he would do to ensure that the three arms of government – the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary – are truly independent of one another.
Otumfuo Blesses Akufo-Addo
“I pour my blessings on you. Go forth, and when you become successful, implement these policies you have outlined for the wellbeing of Ghanaians. All we are looking for in Ghana are progress and development. It is not about violence or insults,” the Asantehene articulated.
The Asantehene admonished, “Let us stop the insults and the use of intemperate language on the airwaves. Let us only promote what unites us, rather than what divides us. We have no country apart from Ghana. Whatever you say in the electioneering period let it be based on policies and not on insults.”
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi