Asante Parliamentary Caucus objects to story

Kumasi, July 21, GNA - The Asante Parliamentary Caucus has objected to news items carried by Choice FM and the Ghanaian Voice newspaper that the caucus had shown disrespect to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, by refusing to attend a meeting he (Otumfuo) convened to settle disagreement and misunderstanding among them. A statement issued and signed by Nana Asante-Frimpong, MP for Kwabre and Chairman of the caucus, said the Choice FM news item and the Ghanaian Voice publication were false.

The statement said it was difficult to believe that the publication was done without malice and prejudice, adding that they were deliberately published to cause mischief and intended to tarnish the image of the Asantehene for reasons best known to the two media houses. The Caucus has, therefore, demanded an apology particularly from the Ghanaian Voice to Ashanti MPs and the Asantehene for publishing falsehood and that anything short of that would not be accepted. Giving the background to the whole issue the statement said in March last year the Caucus paid a courtesy call on the Otumfuo and discussed with him matters of interest to both sides. In the course of the discussion it was agreed that future regular meetings and interactions between the Caucus and the Asantehene would be a good idea.

The Caucus decided at the beginning of June to seek appointment with him for a meeting on July 1 that was granted. The statement said on that day 18 members of the Caucus had a closed door meeting with the Asantehene at Manhyia and that at the meeting there was no media coverage. After the meeting there was no press release and the MPs did not grant interview to any of the few Journalists, who were around the Palace.

The Caucus said they were shocked when on July 3 Choice FM broadcast a news item that they had shown disrespect to Otumfuo by refusing to attend a meeting he called to settle a disagreement and misunderstanding among them. The statement said on the same July 3 the Ghanaian Voice published an article captioned "Ashanti MPs Show Disrespect to Asantehene", more or less echoing the words that were used on Choice FM.

The statement said when Nana Asante-Frimpong contacted the FM station they confirmed the story but gave him the opportunity to state exactly what happened at the meeting, which the station carried. In the case of the Voice the caucus said when Nana Asante-Frimpong contacted the newspaper, they were unable to substantiate the authenticity of the story and, therefore, decided to publish the correct version.

However, the statement said, the Voice's corrected version on page four of the 10th-13th July, 2003 edition of the paper captioned: "Ashanti MPs Deny Showing Disrespect" was not only unacceptable but also ridiculous and most unprofessional. "The Voice has arrogantly and ignorantly assumed the position of a judge before whom Ashanti MPs stand accused only to plead denial." The statement said if Ashanti MPs of all people would show disrespect to Otumfuo "then who else will respect him? Otumfuo's standing in the socio-cultural landscape of Ghana is unique and unassailable." "No true and sane Asante let alone MPs representing the Region would even dream of showing disrespect to the Great King." The Caucus said the media houses had both a moral and legal duty to ensure that whatever they broadcast and publish for public consumption was accurate, fair and objective. "To publish false news without doing any check on source is not only irresponsible but also criminal. Ghana's march forward to democracy would be seriously derailed by media houses that have no respect for objectivity and fairness".