Otumfuo Declares War on Chiefs

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has categorically stated that any Ashanti chief who corrupts his position and allows money to influence his sense of judgement would be made to face the full rigour of the law, says the Free Press.

At the latest meeting of the Kumasi Traditional Council, the King was emphatic that some chiefs have formed the habit of accepting bribes from their subjects and litigants with the promise that they could influence cases, which had been reported to the Manhyia Palace.

The Asantehene said that information which reached him indicate that some particular chiefs had created the impression and made other people believe that it was normal to pay bribe through them if he (the Asantehene) would have to rule in their favour.

The Asantehene expressed regrets at the fact that on numerous occasions, he had entrusted the investigations into certain issues and cases in the hands of the chiefs only to find out that some of them have twisted the results to the investigations.

"They always have the audacity to throw dust into my eyes since I am not always around during the investigations. All in all, the truth about such cases, when they resurface, touch on the integrity of these chiefs".

The Asantehene advised the chiefs to abstain from the practice whereby they encourage litigants to visit their palaces at odd hours. He said that the tendency to get influenced at those hours could be very high, adding, anybody who gives money to any chief with the motive that the chief will influence the course of events at the Manhyia Palace will be handed over to the police.