Otumfuo Osei Tutu II reveals how he averted post-2016 electoral crisis

In the style of the biblical King Solomon, whose wisdom brought peace to a divided house, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has revealed how he deployed traditional authority to pull Ghana back from the brink of electoral crisis following the 2016 general election.

Addressing a United Nations High-Level Forum on the Culture of Peace in New York in 2019, the Asantehene disclosed that the country “stood on the edge of disaster” after the polls, with UN representatives and the diplomatic community concerned that Ghana was about to “slip down the slope of electoral violence.”

Speaking with quiet authority, Otumfuo described how the moral influence of the Manhyia Palace became decisive at a moment when political tensions threatened to escalate.

“Fortunately, the moral authority of the Palace was at hand,” he said, adding, “We were able to intervene to persuade the losing candidate to accept his fate and to fly both candidates for a quiet encounter to pave the way for a smooth handover.”

In the immediate aftermath of the elections, tensions ran high amid accusations and fears of retaliatory violence, raising concerns about the country’s stability.

While the world watched closely, the Asantehene revealed that behind-the-scenes diplomacy helped defuse the situation.

He noted that he brought the “combatants into a quiet conclave to cool passions and restore calm.”

“These are the highest examples of the crucial roles behind the curtains when the moral force of traditional authority is harnessed to protect the peace, unity, and security of Ghana,” he stated.

The Asantehene used the UN platform to advocate the fusion of traditional authority with modern governance, noting that Ghana continues to demonstrate the value of such cohesion to the world.