Open Letter to Asantehene and Asanteman Council

Dear Nananom,

It behoves me to write to inquire from, and to share views with, you, on some pertinent issues. You are very much aware of how you have come under dissection of character in view of your publicly established, or perceived, defiance of acceptable conventional procedures when adjudicating cases brought before you.

It is not my character to be rude towards my elders; however, I cannot stand the exhibition of open dishonesty and commission of crime with impunity by whomever, be they traditional chiefs, elders or politicians. It really gets to me when people in whose hands we have entrusted our lives and welfare, begin to underestimate our intelligence, presuming we are fools that they can treat worse than their pets without anyone able to challenge them. This is exactly what you were seen doing at the adjudication of the Kumawu chieftaincy dispute in which you forced one Dr Yaw Sarfo on Kumawuman citizens as their Omanhene according as captured on video recording that has ended up on YouTube titled, "Asantehene involves in corruption".

I know very well that most of you might have regretted the way you behaved that day; almost all of you displayed utter ignorance of written conventions pertaining to Stool disputes and enstoolment.

Now that you have been made aware of the existence of some regulations, both conventional and statutory as read from my publications on some Ghana news websites, will you behave same if you were to be given a second chance to deal with the Kumawu stool dispute amid the revealed corrupt practices by Kumawuhemaa?

Do you know that by your actions and pronouncements as witnessed in the video you could all well be accused of complicity in crime? Do you know that you were all arrogating to yourselves powers that you have no right to, thus, malignantly trying to rewrite the enviable rich history of Kumawu?

There is no known traditional or statutory power vested in Asantehene to nominate, let alone, impose, any candidate on Kumawuman as their Omanhene. I hope Nananom will take note of this. Moreover, you had better find out the requests or terms agreed with Barimah Tweneboah Koduah I, Kumawuhene, before surrendering himself as the sacrificial lamb to save Asanteman.

Why had you desired to disobey the centuries-old standing order or tradition? Is it because you were not aware of it or you were just colluding with Kumawuhemaa to inflict broad daylight customary robbery on Kumawuman?

To be honest with you Nananom, you are disgracing and weakening, if not already disgraced and weakened, chieftaincy, in Asanteman, if your openly biases is how best you go about resolving problems or litigations brought before you.

The Kumawu Ankaase "royals" are without any lineage, either paternal or matrilineal, to Barimah Tweneboah Koduah I, the originator of the Kumawu Koduah stool as furtively agreed with Kumawuhemaa but publicly sought to be announced by Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

Nananom, it is only my prayer that you will keep yourselves aloof from the Kumawu stool dispute if you are not ready to tell the truth but would rather condone and connive to support the lies in pursuit by Kumawuhemaa.

It is my hope that you will let the truth be the light that shines upon your feet so that you don't stumble. Will it not be the most decent thing to do by accepting your shortcomings, swallow your pride and then announce in one of your meetings that you erred on the Kumawu case with a subsequent apology rendered to the good law-abiding citizens of Kumawuman?

We had better note that respect is earned but not commanded. A stitch in time saves nine. What will it profit you if you lie under the influence of bribery, nepotism or pure show off of your authoritarian supremacy to twist the truth to favour the otherwise guilty person or party? You will get nothing but only to be awash in disgrace in the end.

I am certain that Nananom will cogitate about the content of this publication to act accordingly in the mutual interest of all the feuding parties in the Kumawu chieftaincy dispute. It is only your preparedness to selflessly seek to establish justice that will exonerate you from blame.

Yours sincerely,

Rockson Adofo