Should I once more question the integrity of the Asante Overlord, Otumfuo Osei Tutu
II? In the unsaid minds of many a Kumawuman citizens, a cloud of doubt encompasses
his credibility when it comes to the arbitration of the Kumawu chieftaincy dispute.
It must be noted that Kumawuhemaa has unceasingly without shame been announcing that
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II is her boyfriend. She claims Otumfuo will never ever be able to
make a ruling against her. From the look of the delaying tactics stance assumed by
Asantehene on the case, it is all too evident that Kumawuhemaa is or was his
girlfriend as alleged. I don't care what they do with their bodies as two consenting
adults but to allow their sexual gratification to ruin, stagnate or push back the
development of Kumawuman is very worrying and unjustified. The adjudication of the
case has stalemated simply for Asantehene listening to the dictates of his heart
instead of his head, I should think. He would decide the case in favour of his
girlfriend if he had his own way. But the historical evidence pertaining to the
rightful Kumawu paramount royal family as before his Asanteman Council tilts
credibly in favour of the Ananangyas. This makes it all too difficulty for him to
bend any eventual verdict in favour of his Sweetheart, the Kumawuhemaa, and her
Ankaase family.
Asantehene should please note how his actions and inactions have allowed not only
his supposed girlfriend but the Kumawu Krontihene to exploit and continue to wreak
financial havoc on Kumawuman without mercy. Otumfuo will surely bury his head in
shame should he be any caring person which I hope he isn't? Before proceeding any
further, may I kindly ask Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, "When are you going to ask
Kumawuhemaa about the outcome of her consultation with her elders on the
Asantehene's Great Oath ("Ntamkese") invoked on her about three years ago?" Does the
failure to summon her on the "Ntamkese" not constitute travesty of justice?
Kumawu Krontihene has published an article captioned, "Kumawu Chief violates
Otumfuo's Constitution" in the Chronicle newspaper of Thursday, 31st March 2011.
Kontrihene had written this article with the knowledge and tacit support of some
Ankaase family members. The gist of the message was to inform Asantehene of Kumawu
Aduanahene's involvement in active politics and also, in the hope of getting
Asantehene to destool the Aduanahene. He asserted that the Aduanahene accompanied
the sacked Kumawu DCE to Accra in an attempt to plead for his re-instatement with
President Mills. Let me take a sentence or two to prove how ignorant, illogical and
less knowledgeable but crafty the Kontrihene is. To begin with, for a chief of an
area to get actively involved in Local Government (District and Local Assembly)
activities does not in any way make him liable for destoolment as hoped for by
Kontrihene. The NDC government has directed that MCEs and DCEs should work with the
traditional rulers to ensure the fullest proper use of Government allocated funds
for the development of their areas. Secondly, if accompanying the DCE to Accra
amounts to playing active politics as alleged, then what is the person(s) who
endorsed him for the post accused of? It was Kumawuhemaa and the same corrupt
Kontrihene who wrote an endorsement letter for the same sacked DCE to be appointed
by President Mills in the first place. Did they consider themselves at that time as
engaged in active politics or not? What a gratuitous insult to the intelligence of
Aduanahene?
It will be recalled that DCE Basoah of NPP was once dismissed by President Kufuor
for unspecified reason(s). Let's assume DCE Basoah erred. Did some Kumawu elders not
go to Accra to plead on his behalf upon which he was re-instated? Were those elders
accused of doing active politics? No!
Let me enumerate here some of the evils committed, and are still in perpetration by
Kontrihene against Kumawuman. * Kontrihene connived with Kumawuhemaa, Sanaahene and
Saamaahene to withdraw 864.64 Million old Cedis from the Kumawu Traditional
Council's Bank accounts with the Kumawu Rural Bank without the knowledge of the
Kumawu Traditional Council. The above named persons embezzled 550 Million Cedis of
the money. Law suit was instituted against the perpetrators of the embezzlement.
Asantehene asked for the case to be withdrawn and brought before him for settlement.
Though criminal in nature as it is, the complainants out of respect for Asantehene
did comply as requested. Anglican Bishop Rev. Yinkah even had the opportunity to
preside over the settlement of this case where Kontrihene acknowledged his guilt and
subsequently pleaded for forgiveness. * Kontrihene and Kumawuhemaa sold 450,000
hectares of Kumawuman lands at Afram Plains without the knowledge of the Traditional
Council. They pocketed the advance payment given by the purchaser. * Kontrihene sold
the Kumawuman Oil palm plantation situated at Atakrom near Okaikrom/Nyanfa without
the knowledge of the Traditional Council. When he was questioned, he said to possess
absolute authority to sell the oil palm plantation without consulting anyone. He
also refuses to tell how much it was sold for and for what purpose the money was
used.* He sold a parcel of forest land at Kokoado near the abandoned Kumawu Water
works to TIGO for $5000 without the approval and knowledge of the Kumawu Forestry
Department or the Traditional Council. * He has sold a parcel of land to AIRTEL near
Kumawu cemetery and collected US dollars again without the knowledge of the
Traditional Council. * He has released a 3 mile square of farmland in the Afram
plains to one Opanin Nimako from the Afram Plains still without the knowledge of the
Traditional Council. He has collected from him GHC25, 000 (250 Million old Cedis).
Opanin Nimako is blind so he decides to lease the land to some "Konkoma" people to
plant maize on the terms of sharing the harvest with them. Kontrihene opposes how
Opanin Nimako plans to put the land to use. This bitter disagreement led to Op.
Nimako asking for the refund of his money from Kontrihene. The failure of Kontrihene
to give him back his money angered him so much so that he came to Kumawu to inform
the Aduanahene and others.
The Kontrihene is far worse than the late Barimah Asumadu Sakyi II when it comes to
misappropriating Kumawuman lands and funds. * The "social responsibilities" on lands
released to those felling timber trees are taken and kept by Kontrihene for his
personal use. * The land earmarked for the future extension of the Kumawu District
Court opposite the Presby JSS by the Kumawu-Abotanso road has been sold by
Kontrihene. He has also sold one Collins Yaw Agyei's land opposite Dr. Kwabena
Dufuor's house. * He sent Okyeame Osei and Okyeame Kodua to the villages in the
Afram Plains to collect GHC1, 000 from each "Odikro" saying he is engaged in some
litigation on behalf of Kumawuman and that he needs their financial support. * Since
the death of Barimah Asumadu Sakyi II, he has neither disclosed any proceeds of
royalties nor presented any Bank statements to the Traditional Council * He has
been taking money from the Fulani chased out of the Agogo lands and offering them
the use of Kumawuman lands in the Afram Plains. He keeps saying Barimah Asumadu
Sakyi II did permit its usage by the Fulani so he is only continuing that policy.
But why does he not account for the money collected from them. * After Kumawuhemaa
has collected $10,000 from a gold mining company for issuance of land concession at
Kumawu-Woraso, the Kontrihene has since collected from the Company GHC7, 000.
Any money that has gone to Kontrihene as stated above has not been accounted for.
The Kontrihene has been exercising autocratic behaviours far worse than that of
Barimah Asumadu Sakyi II.
Blame Asantehene for all that has happened to Kumawuman. I am at this point unable
to tell if Otumfuo Osei Tutu II benefits directly from the money going to
Kontrihene. Kontrihene did confide in someone that if Asantehene can buy a house in
London, why shouldn't he also be able to build a house in Ghana? Does he have to use
dubious means to build his house where Asantehene may have acquired his London house
genuinely?
It must be noted that the Aduanahene and the Akwamuhene are those able to face him
squarely hence his desire to finding a way to weaken them through such silly but
ineffective publications. Kontrihene is a crook who has been feeding fat on the
fears, ignorance and nonchalance of the majority of the Kumawuman citizens. Whatever
the case, Asantehene is to be blamed for his shilly-shallying which has allowed
Kontrihene and Kumawuhemaa to cause such extensive ruinous financial loss to
Kumawuman.
A word of advice to alias "Tikenenkenen" Kontrihene, "Those who live in glass houses
shouldn't throw stones"
John Fosu
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