GhanaWeb Feature by Etsey Atisu
Two women went to the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi recently. That meeting became a big talking point in the country. And this was not a social visit, as such visits to the palace are usually not for pleasant reasons.
And rightly so, they were there to present themselves to the chiefs of Asanteman to apologise and hopefully, answer questions about their utterances at a previous setting; the two women were on a television program and utterances that had ruffled the sharp feathers of the chiefs of Ashanti were made.
In fairness, it was only one of the two women: Afia Pokua - the guest on the show hosted by Mona Gucci, who made those wild comments about the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and who prompted this most unpopular encounter.
What Afia Pokua Said:
The controversy began when Afia Pokua, a presenter at Agoo TV, criticised the Asantehene for his perceived silence amid ongoing conflicts involving his subjects and other tribes, including the Bonos.
On Onua FM’s ‘Bribi Gye Gye Wo,’ hosted by Mona Gucci, Pokua expressed frustration with what she sees as Ashantis proving superiority over other tribes and the Asantehene’s refusal to act on it.
"Asante is not the whole of Ghana. If you are only thinking about Asante, they can amend the laws so that you can separate yourself from the rest of the country," she told Mona Gucci earlier in September 2024.
Added to this, some angry Asante youth staged a protest on the matter and held a press conference where they poured out their abhorrence for what Afia Pokua said.
Afia Pokua and Mona Gucci Apologise:
And coming to terms with the fact that what they said may not have been entirely pleasant, the two women: Afia Pokua and Mona Gucci, issued heartfelt apologies on their respective social media platforms for speaking against the Asantehene, topping it up with a live TV apology.
Using the same platform they displayed such conduct on, the two rendered their joint apology to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and the entire Asanteman.
Mona, the host of the show on Onua TV, expressed her regret for enabling Afia Pokua and allowing her to voice derogatory comments about the Asantehene.
“When my guest came on the show, she made statements that hurt many. We are using this same platform to apologise. To our viewers around the world, including the Ashantis, we are truly sorry. We acknowledge your pain and concerns regarding this issue. I, Monalisa Abigail Sefakor Semeha, plead for your forgiveness. I apologise for everything that has transpired.
“The Asantehene is our father, and Asanteman is our family. Please forgive us,” Mona Gucci said.
Afia Pokua, appearing visibly remorseful, also delivered an extended apology to the Asantehene and the entire Ashanti kingdom, both at home and abroad.
Clad in funeral attire and nearly drawn to tears, she bowed as she expressed her heartfelt regret.
“I offer a sincere apology to the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. I did not speak well at all, and I accept my wrongs. I am his grandchild, child, and niece. I bow and ask for his forgiveness.
“I also apologise to the entire Asanteman, both home and abroad. Please forgive me. My actions were not intentional; I ask that, despite your anger, you find it in your heart to forgive me. I erred; I goofed,” Afia Pokua said.
These notwithstanding, the two women dragged themselves to the Manhyia Palace. And that was when the worst of the things that the chiefs of Asanteman said to the women who had appeared before them in great remorse, hopeful that their apologies would be received well and pardon granted them.
Rather, they were demeaned, insulted, and the worst of the worst was when the visibly angry chiefs decided to use the occasion to draw in comparisons and comments only fit for the descriptions of condescending.
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In summary, a lot of the chiefs said things that should not have been said, or at worst, irrelevant to the core of that gathering; at least not when there were cameras and microphones all over.
Here is a breakdown of some of those worst things that were said by the chiefs, put together by GhanaWeb.
Sexualising and Body Shaming Afia Pokua:
One of the worst things said by one of the chiefs of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II was how they decided to sexualise Afia Pokua and speak in perhaps, far degrading ways than what brought her before them.
And this is how one of the chiefs achieved that:
“Those are the lips she used to utter those words. Just look at yourself—take a good look. Do you really think you're someone who should say such things, let alone be summoned here? Look at you. Look at your stature, your feet. Just examine yourself. You’ll claim you have big buttocks...
“Blacks often indulge people who are insolent. You need to be respectful if you want to travel. Some people may not deserve certain favors, but because they show respect, they’re accepted. Others might be good-looking, but they can't stay elsewhere for long. We're telling you directly: what you said and how you said it were wrong.”
Challenging Afia Pokua’s Lineage:
As if that was not enough, one of the chiefs sought to correct Afia Pokua regarding her lineage.
Having earlier been asked by one of the chiefs where she (Afia) hails from, in addressing the issues, the same chief who spoke earlier (Asantehene’s kyeame) firmly told the media personality (Afia) to her face that she is not a Kwahu as she claimed, but that she rather has lineages from the northern Frafra people (her father’s side) and Krobo (from her mother’s side).
And this, he stated, was from his own investigations into her background.
Threats of death:
And the more heated the chiefs’ comments in the palace got, the more damaging things they said. And that comes to when this same chief decided to draw in threats of deaths in addressing Afia Pokua.
Referencing the practices of colonial days in the Manhyia Palace and what pertains today, the chief reminded Afia Pokua that the Asantehene is not someone to toy with, and that had this been in times past, her head could have been on the chopping board.
“We don’t joke with the Asantehene. We call him ‘Kum Nipa’—meaning someone who kills. If you’re not careful, you could die without anyone even laying a hand on you. This house is full of spirits; once you step foot here, understand that there are many spirits present. If you come here, plead, and are forgiven, you are still fined. We demand a sheep, kill it, and cleanse you with its blood. We exchange the life of a sheep for that of a man.
“We used to perform human sacrifices. You would have been dead long ago. But now, we request sheep, and even now, the chiefs won’t accept your sheep. So, carry your burden. To those who own the platform she sat on to utter those words, we want to tell you: she has bitten off more than she can chew.”
Afia Pokua’s Father Dragged into the Matter:
And then there were several moments when Afia Pokua’s father, believed to be a chief linguist in her hometown of Kwahu, but this one hit home too hard and too quickly.
In a most demeaning fashion, the Okyeame to the Asantehene described the health condition of her father, making a most troubling statement about even the fact that her father’s walking stick was bought from Kumasi.
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