By Godwin Owusu Frimpong
Recent events in the Ashanti Region have raised pressing questions regarding the moral integrity of traditional sub-chiefs, who appear to be fostering a culture of silence among their subjects. Several alarming incidents have surfaced, most notably involving an elderly woman’s impassioned plea against the very chiefs who convened at the Manhyia Palace to address the controversy surrounding media personality Afia Pokua’s disparaging remarks about the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. In stark contrast to their vigorous response to Afia Pokua, critics are now questioning the chiefs’ apparent indifference towards rampant illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, which is severely degrading the region’s rivers.
In a compelling video shared on TikTok, the distressed market woman recounts the broken promises made by the chiefs to facilitate the construction of a new market in Kumasi. Describing her plight, she voiced her frustration over how their assurances led her and her fellow traders to incur debts while attempting to develop a new market at the Race Course. The demolition of their efforts, she lamented, undermined not only their livelihoods but also their trust in traditional authorities, contributing to a culture of grievances that she believes threatens to tarnish the reputation of the Ashanti Kingdom.
“All the chiefs who sat down to discuss and handle the Afia Pokua issue should listen; you are the cause of the attacks directed at the Asantehene and his throne,” she asserted, underscoring a growing sentiment that the chiefs’ focus should extend beyond reprimanding individuals to addressing the broader issues affecting their community. Despite her anguish and calls for accountability, she underscored the pervasive fear that curtails open dissent among the market women, many of whom are grappling with debt and a sense of betrayal.
As public discontent grows, observers are left questioning whether the traditional leaders are truly protecting the rights of their subjects or merely seeking to maintain their authority through silence and repression. Amidst a backdrop of rising tensions and unaddressed grievances, the legitimacy and integrity of traditional leadership in the Ashanti Region are increasingly coming under scrutiny.
https://youtu.be/wZWpIKae4Zs
Godwin Owusu Frimpong
