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Is Asantehene Privy to Kumawu Kontrihene's Embezzling Spree?

Sun, 10 Apr 2011 Source: Fosu, John

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

Columnist: Fosu, John