Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has said that the creation of new regions in the country cannot affect the traditional autonomy of the Asante Kingdom.
He noted that similar moves in the colonial and post-independence era could not alter the already existing Asanteman.
Speaking at the first Asanteman Council Meeting for the year at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on Monday, the overlord of the Asante Kingdom said no chief should consider the existing arrangement null, due to the creation of new regions.
The Asanteman Council is an assembly of paramount chiefs from Ashanti, Bono East and Bono regions to pay homage to the Golden Stool. Other chiefs are from the Ahafo, Eastern, Western and Western North and Oti regions.
According to the Asantehene, the authority and autonomy of Asanteman has never been in dispute, adding that new political administrative regions do not alter existing traditional arrangements.
“Government recently created the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo regions. Before this, a similar incident happened during the regime of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. He carved the Bono Ahafo region out of Western Ashanti.
“Even Kwame Nkrumah, who didn’t like us at that time, acknowledged that the creation of new regions were not meant to alter existing traditional arrangements and that the creation of new regions was to facilitate development at local level and also promote governance.
“The creation of Bono Ahafo didn’t mean all chiefs who hitherto held allegiance to the Golden Stool could not do so,” he said.
Dormaahene, Oseadeeyo Agyemang Badu II, recently stated that history has been distorted by the Asante’s to suit their interest.
The Asantehene however asserted that the Dormaahene’s ‘rowdy tactics’ in recent times cannot erase history, nor will it take away laid down traditional arrangements.
SOURCE: myjoyonline.com
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