The Ashanti Youth Association should not attempt to

... defend the indefensible.

Attempts by the Ashanti Youth Association to twist facts and pour sand into people’s eyes with regards to Otumfuo’s involvement in the transfer of huge sums of money from the Presidency to Judges of the Supreme Court in the Election Petition brought by the NPP against the declaration of John Dramani Mahama as President do not hold water at all.

The Group in its desperation to defend the indefensible rather resorted to the use of indecent language. Let me make this correction. The sacked Deputy Minister of Communication in the leaked tape just stated that Nana Oye Lithur had gone to see the “Honourable” Justices the night before the day judgement was given. Nowhere did we hear that the Minister had gone to see the “honourables” with money.

But the allegation against our revered Otumfuo was that he had helped facilitate the transfer of huge sums of Ghanaian people money from the Presidency to some “honourable” members of the Supreme Court. The allegations in the Free Press and that on the leaked Vicky Hamah’s tape are two separate things. I therefore caution the Association to exercise restraint for it is not yet time to shout “eureka”.

It is pertinent at this juncture to state that the statement issued by Barima Sarpong who describes himself as its Secretary contains inaccuracies, distortions and blatant lies. It made mention of faceless and nameless individuals who want to see the downfall of the Ashanti Kingdom.

Let me state here for the avoidance of doubts that I was one such person who was vociferous in my condemnation of Otumfuo Osei Tutu’s act of discretion. I am neither faceless nor nameless as a check on my write up will confirm. I even supplied my contact number. Deep down in my heart I wish the Otumfuo and the Ashanti Kingdom well. I made an objective analysis of the issues at hand without malice. A check at various websites will reveal the fact that I do not hate the Otumfuo and his people.

Let me at this juncture repeat my philosophy which permeates my various write ups. And it is the fact that in our desperate attempts to arrive at “the Heart of the Matter” and to clinch the Golden Fleece, we must not sidetrack the moral issues that go with them. The Ashanti Youth Association owes Ghanaians and the future generations just that.

The matter is clear to discerning Ghanaians. Otumfuo Osei Tutu 11 and the Manhyia Palace erred by accepting a Greek Gift from the discredited Mahama’s G0overnment. Various Asante Kings had been embarking on foreign travels without accepting any “crumbles” from serving governments. But if for some reasons Government decides to facilitate such travels, it must not be at the blind side of the public. What was the wisdom in keeping Otumfuo’s acceptance of Government offer to airlift him to Britain a secret? If the Palace had made the admission public before the allegation came out, the entire hullabaloo that surrounded the issue would have amounted to nothing.

Yes, Otumfuo and his advisers erred by accepting such a Greek Gift from a government desperate to drag others along on its downward path to Golgotha. The Ashanti Youth Association should rather direct its anger at Manhyia Palace instead of looking for perceived enemies. The Association should desist from name calling and embark on a positive crusade to cleanse the Palace of non performers. Would they rather we stopped the positive criticism of Otumfuo to enable his “Ahithophel” of advisers’ ample opportunity to plunge him and the Great Ashanti Kingdom down the precipice?

The Ashanti Youth Association should rather embark on a positive public relations campaign to clear the mess caused by Otumfuo Osei Tutu’s act of discretion.

I rest my case.

Daniel Danquah Damptey (Damptey_daniel@yahoo.com) 0243715297.