‘Wrong’ Asantehene statue causes anger in Kumasi

A statue of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has sparked controversy in Kumasi, with some residents berating the sculptor for doing a shoddy work.

The said statue is positioned inside the multi-million dollar new Kejetia Market in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.

The statue was unveiled on Wednesday, May 1, 2019, prior to President Akufo-Addo’s sod-cutting ceremony for the redevelopment of phase two of the market.

However, many residents in Kumasi aired their frustration with the sculptor, saying the statue doesn’t represent the true image of the Asantehene.

According to them, the statue does not resemble Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and therefore should not be positioned inside the Kejetia Market.

A report by MyNewsGh.com indicates that many residents in Kumasi called into the various radio stations to express their disappointment.

They reportedly questioned why the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) officials didn’t ensure that due diligence was done before the unveiling of the statue.

They also complained about the wrong spelling of some words beneath the statue, pointing to the spelling of “enstoolment” as “enstolement”.

The residents, therefore, called for the sculptor and the city authorities to be punished for ridiculing the Ashanti kingdom and its king.

Some also suggested that the statue be pulled down for a more befitting one to be put up for the Asantehene.