Afia Pokua, in her recent statements about the aftermath of her ordeal at the Manhyia Palace, has stated that the experience has led to a positive transformation in her life.
The media personality has since faced massive backlash and public condemnation after her alleged disrespect toward the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
The incident, which resulted in her being grilled at the Manhyia Palace, saw her apology rejected by the elders.
They even concluded that she was carrying a "huge curse" as a result of her actions.
While many expected Afia Pokua to fade into the background and suffer further repercussions, Afia said she has instead focused on the positives, which she believes have significantly benefited her life.
Speaking in a recent interview, Afia Pokua has disclosed that the controversy brought her unexpected fame and opened doors to opportunities she had never imagined.
“The issue that happened gave me the exposure I never expected. I won't focus on the negatives; the positives have been huge. Do you know the massive fame and popularity I’ve gained because of this? Do you know the kind of contacts I now have? If I tell you the number and type of contacts on my phone, you’ll be shocked.
"You saw where you met me today, right? It was just a phone call, and this chief (Owoahene) asked me to be the MC for his birthday. He had never met me before; this is the first time I’m seeing him. The person who connected us is my godfather. So, when I look at it, the positives far outweigh the negatives,” she said in an interview with Smart Ghana TV.
In response to the elders' statements at the Manhyia Palace stating that she was cursed, Afia Pokua firmly rejected such claims.
"I don’t have any curse on my life. I pray like crazy. What the heavens have said concerning my life is what will manifest, not what any human being says."
Afia Pokua added that 2024 has been a turning point for her.
"2024 has been my year. I won’t deny God the praise. If for anything at all, He has looked after my family, loved ones, and even my enemies. So I am grateful," she stated.
Background
The controversy began when Afia Pokua, a journalist at Agoo TV, criticised the Asantehene for his perceived silence amid ongoing conflicts involving his subjects and other tribes, including the Bonos.
On Onua FM’s ‘Bribi Gye Gye wo,’ hosted by Mona Gucci, Pokua expressed frustration with what she sees as Ashantis proving superiority over other tribes and the Asantehene’s refusal to act on it.
These statements sparked massive outrage among the Ashantis, with many individuals, including sub-chiefs and queen mothers, openly expressing their criticism.
Also, the angry Asante youth staged a protest and held a press conference to address the situation.
The Manhyia Palace ordeal
After apologising on their respective social media platforms for allegedly disrespecting the Asantehene and offering another apology on live TV, Afia Pokua and Mona Gucci visited the Manhyia Palace to deliver a formal apology to Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
They were accompanied by Prophet Kumchacha and a delegation from Onua TV, the media house where Afia Pokua made the comments about the Asantehene.
Dressed in all black, Afia Pokua was seen kneeling in front of the Otumfuo’s representative almost throughout the proceedings.
Moderated by the Otumfuo’s Okyeame (Linguist), both parties addressed the issues, and the offenders presented their third apology to the delegation.
Afia Pokua's apology rejected
After hours of pleading at Manhyia Palace, Afia Pokua was asked to 'leave with her cursed self' and never set foot there again.
Not even the faction of elders who advocated for her could persuade the Otumfuo’s representative to accept her apology.
One elder pleaded on Afia Pokua’s behalf, that she (Pokua), had been on her knees since her arrival and had brought an apology that should be considered.
However, the Otumfuo’s representative remained resolute, stating that in the palace, an apology isn’t always sufficient in such matters.
He emphasised that there are times when offenders are left to face their consequences, and Afia Pokua’s situation was one of those.
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