A row between a distinguished journalist and a king has captivated many in Ghana.
It started when Afia Pokua criticised the Ashanti king’s dealing with of tensions with different ethnic teams, the deference that politicians present him, and expressed her frustration in regards to the obvious supremacy of the Asante neighborhood.
“Even the president… bowed to point out respect to the chief,” Ms Pokua mentioned in an interview with Mona Gucci earlier this month on native channel Onua TV.
“Asante is just not the entire of Ghana. In case you are solely desirous about Asante, they’ll amend the legal guidelines so that you could separate your self from the remainder of the nation.”
The feedback weren’t nicely obtained by the normal ruler.
The top of the Ashanti kingdom – Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II – occupies a robust place in society and it’s thought-about vastly disrespectful to overtly insult or criticise him.
His official title is the “Asantehene” – however he’s additionally known as “Nyame Kessie” which suggests larger god, and as such he’s handled with most respect.
Royal historian Osei Bonsu Sarfo Kantanka, who works for the Asantehene, instructed the BBC that anyone desirous to criticise the chief should comply with particular steps.
“You undergo the queen mom – she is the one one who can rebuke him. Should you don’t undergo the queen mom and you then do it your self, you then’re in bother,” he mentioned.
Mr Osei additionally criticised Ms Pokua for saying that Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II, who’s in his 70s, was arduous of listening to.
“Should you use this phrase on even an extraordinary individual, he won’t take it as criticism.”
In search of to apologise for her feedback, Ms Pokua on Monday went to Manhye Palace in Kumasi the place the Asantehene lives.
Wearing black and accompanied by elders, she kneeled on the bottom and begged for forgiveness, as did Ms Gucci. The entire spectacle was filmed for TV.
However Ms Pokua’s apologies have been rejected by representatives of the Ashanti conventional ruler and she or he was requested to go away the palace.
“Take your cursed self and your troubles with you. No matter comes your manner sooner or later, cope with it by yourself. Don’t ever return right here,” the Asantehene instructed her, in response to native media.
That was regardless of her already apologising on social media and reside tv.
In keeping with the royal historian, it boils down to a different failure to comply with etiquette.
To ensure that her apology to be accepted, mentioned Mr Osei, the journalist ought to have appealed to the Agona conventional authority and brought alongside along with her, her dad and mom and the house owners of the TV station that broadcast the vital remarks.
If the apology have been accepted, the Agona chief would then convey the message to the Asantehene after which set a date to take her to Manhye Palace for one more apology.
However, if she follows these steps now, it might not be too late.
