Traditional leaders urged to respect rights of subjects

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu 11, has charged chiefs and other traditional leaders to respect the rights and dignity of their people at all times. He said chiefs should see themselves as servants who were prepared to lead their people to promote peace and development in their areas.

Speaking at the first meeting of the year of the Asanteman Council in Kumasi on Monday, Otumfuo Osei Tutu, charged the chiefs to respect their subjects in order to win their support and not to use their positions to antagonise them. Otumfuo Osei Tutu was not happy about the current trend in funeral celebrations in Asanteman and reiterated his call on traditional rulers in the area to discuss the issue passionately and come out with traditional bylaws that would help curb the situation and reduce funeral cost.

He said chiefs had an onerous responsibility to protect the customs and traditions of their people adding that, the current way of funeral celebrations were against the traditions of Asanteman. Otumfuo Osei Tutu stated that, the huge sums of money used in preparing food, drinks and other extravagant activities during funerals must be condemned by all. He indicated that such monies could be well invested in the socio-economic and educational development in the communities and thereby improve the living conditions of the people.

Otumfuo announced that the Council was to set up a committee to look into the issue and come out with appropriate recommendations that would help to curb the phenomenon. He was not happy that some chiefs in the Brong Ahafo Region, who owed allegiance to the golden stool, bypassed him and got themselves registered at the Brong Ahafo Regional house of chiefs and warned that, such attitude would not be tolerated anymore.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu, said chiefs, who owed allegiance to him must first swear the oath to him before getting themselves registered at the regional houses of chiefs. The Asantehene also warned the chiefs against using their authorities to settle disputes, which were beyond their capabilities and urged them to always refer such cases to the Manhyia Palace for settlement.GNA