Ghanaian Times

Reporting on the swearing of the "Great Oath" of Ashanti by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene-elect,

The Ghanaian Times says the new king swore the great oath of allegiance to the Kumasi Traditional Council at a moving ceremony at the Manhyia Palace amid tears and jubilation. The paper, in a front page account of the event, says hundreds of people watched him holding the tradditional sword "Pomponsuo" in the right hand as he pledged his loyalty to the chciefs of Kumasi, dedicated his service to the beloved nation and promised to to continue the good works of his predecessors. The Times says in the large crowd

At the forecourt of the palace, were ministers of state, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Kojo Yankah, MPs and other dignitaries, whose "kuntunkuni" cloths lent colour to the occasion. The paper says when the oath swearing was over, Otumfuo Osei Tutu sat in state for the Kumasi chiefs to swear before him, the great oath in turns. According to the paper, on Thursday, Otumfuo now Kumasihene, will observe the 40th

Day of the death of his late uncle, Otumfuo Opoku Ware II. Otumfuo Osei Tutu will formally become Asantehene after his installation and enstoolment.

In a second front page story captioned: "Ablekuma is still desolate" the Times reports that Ablekuma, an Accra suburb, has remained desolate four months after the killing of the two policemen, Constables Owusu Sekyere, alias "Kwaku Ninja" and Jerry Wornu, alias "Taller". According to the paper, a visit to the town last week showed that the place was still abandoned by the inhabitants who fled in the wake of police operations to arrest those suspected to be involved in the killings. During the operations, the police burned down houses and kiosks, seized some items and arrested many people. The Times says last week, the few youngmen seen resting under some trees were mainly sand winners from other residential areas and one or two local youth. The paper says a resident, Mr Lawrence Nettey, told the Times on the current situation in the town, that many of the residents who ran away after the incident, were still afraid to return. He said the few who had so far returned, were facing acute accommodation problems because the houses which were burnt down or destroyed during the police action, had not been rebuilt. According to Mr Nettey, at the moment, the elders in the town were either in the hands of the police or in hiding since the case had not been closed.