Watch out for enemies within – Otumfuo tells Akufo-Addo

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has cautioned President Akufo-Addo to be circumspect in his dealings with the people he has surrounded himself with.

The Asantehene noted that some people around the President may, unknown to him, want his downfall.

He thus cautioned the President to be extra vigilant, adding that some past leaders have failed because of people around them.

Addressing a gathering at the Manhyia palace when the President paid a courtesy call on him, the monarch urged Nana Akufo-Addo to be careful of the people around him.

The Asantehene, disclosed that former President John Mahama has confessed his regret for ignoring his advice.

According to the Ashanti King, former presidents Jerry John Rawlings, John Agyekum Kufour, the late John Atta Mills expressed similar sentiments to him after their exit from office.

According to him, the former presidents came back to him lamenting that things would not have gone the way they did if they had listened and acted based on some pieces of advice he offered.

“I had interactions with former presidents and they admitted they should have paid heed to my counsel. Rawlings and Kufour were here, I spoke with Mills 10 days before his demise and he said the same thing. Shortly after his term ended, President Mahama was also here and he confessed that he ignored a number of things I counselled him on which he has paid dearly for,” he said

He said the John Mahama led-NDC government was kicked out of power in the December 7, 2016, election because Ghanaians were hungry and also angry with the performance of his administration.

“Ghanaians voted during the 2016 election based on how hungry and angry they were with the Mahama-led NDC government that is why he lost the election.

“Nana Akufo Addo must be told that if he doesn’t perform to the expectation of Ghanaians, he’ll be kicked out of office the same way John Mahama went.

“I know Nana Akufo Addo is competent and will deliver. At this period of his life and with the height he’s attained, he’ll not amass wealth while in office. All he needs now is to make his name by leaving a legacy.

“Nana Akufo Addo must work to improve the living conditions of Ghanaians because the citizenry are looking up to him”.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu said he will continually support and advice the President, as he did for his predecessors and reminded the President that, “Ghanaians voted for you because they wanted work and money, and so if you don’t deliver, they will vote you out for the same reason.”

He, therefore, advised President Akufo-Addo to use wisely the opportunity given him as President of the nation.