Asantehene Dances to “Yen ntie Obiaa” Song and So What?

The news of Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II hilariously dancing with President Mahama to "azonto-like body-wriggling styles, gestures and steps", is ricocheting among the Ghanaian communities worldwide. Many a Ghanaian, especially an Ashanti, finds Asantehene's engagement in the dance very cynical, nauseous, if not repulsive.

I personally do not find anything wrong with Asantehene exercising his body through dancing. However, the tune and lyrics of the song he dances to, and those with whom he dances, the time and place, are my greatest worries.

President Mahama, not long ago, was alleged to have played, and danced to, this same Daddy Lumba's rendition in a teasing manner to the Ashantis. He has a total disregard for not only the region, but also, Ashantis as a tribe. Ashanti region is not only deprived of vital infrastructural developments but also, government policies with the potential to cause otherwise preventable deaths, needless economic hardships to directly or indirectly exacerbate the already deplorable state of the people, are always intended for Ashantis on pilot scheme experimental basis by the NDC governments.

It is obvious, if not an open secret, for those bearing Ashanti names to be denied public office or civil servant jobs during recruitments into such jobs. I had sometime ago highlighted on this institutional job segregation being secretly, but clearly spearheaded, by the subsequent NDC governments against the Akans, especially the Ashanti-name bearing Ghanaians. Could it be a process of POSITIVE DISCRIMINATION against the Ashantis for a genuine reason?

For Asantehene to happily socialise with the person or government that hates his subjects to the core, and wishes their extermination somehow, is absolutely despicable if not totally mischievous on his part.

I personally find Asantehene pursuing a selfish agenda that is not healthy for the Ashantis as a tribe. Had it not been so, he would use his influence on President Mahama, the person he dubiously assisted to become the President of Ghana, and who happens to be his best buddy, to acquire a lot for the collective interests of the people of Ashanti region. Unless he is in alliance of "Gyimi na me ne wo nngoro", in which case, the Asantehene is the inferior partner, he would not sit and watch while his people suffer under the hands of President Mahama. Probably, Asantehene himself is just as wicked, to let such things happen.

Upon my little expressed views, for Asantehene to be supportive of John Mahama, singing and tangoing with him to that insinuating song is something that flies in the face of every attempt discerning Ashantis are making to extricate themselves from the ill-intentions of the government towards their region. His action is as preposterous as it is damaging to the cause of Ashantis.

I have to abruptly end here because the sad news of Kumawu Kontrihene's death has just been broken to me. He is understood to have kicked the bucket in the early hours of Sunday, 21 December 2014. He featured in the video on YouTube titled, "Asantehene involves in corruption". May his soul rest in perfect peace. I extend my condolences to his wife, children and the entire bereaved Kontrihene's family.

Rockson Adofo