Stop Endorsing Political Parties, Asantehene To Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs

The President of Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs, His Majesty, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, has warned his traditional leaders to desist from endorsing candidates of various political parties publicly.

This year’s general elections is undeviatingly approaching and various political parties want to score cheap political points by wooing various traditional leaders to give them public endorsements.

Millions of Ghanaians will go to the polls again on December 7, 2020, due the expiration of the four-year mandate of His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo as the President of Ghana in the most impeccable of all democracy’s rituals, to elect a new leader.

Article 276 of the 1992 constitution bars traditional leaders from engaging in active partisan politics. But many have been found culpable in this perspective.

And the highly revered King, Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II who has stayed neutral and immaculate in this regard throughout various political regimes has charged his Paramount Chiefs not to allow political parties to use them to win political power.

“Chieftaincy institution is extremely important in the affairs of Ghana, hence its viable existence since time immemorial, had it not been that, it wouldn’t have been existing,” said Asantehene during his address to Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs on Wednesday, October 7, 2020.

He continued that, “Traditional leaders are expected to be seen as neutral as it has been enshrined in the Constitution so that the political parties can run to us to settle their differences. It is imperative to protect our relevance from these politicians.”

Asantehene again reckoned that his traditional leaders can only exhibit the political party they belong when the ballot box is before them.

“I know you all have your favourite political parties you support. However, the constitution frowns on our keen involvement in politics. What we are allowed to do is to vote, that one, you have the right to exercise your franchise but not to the extent of playing an active role or endorsing political parties.”

Source: Opemsuo.com / Sasu Danquah.