..bans radio station after Odike’s anti-galamsey comment against Chiefs
The Asantehene, Osei Tutu II, is faraway in the United Kingdom (UK), but behind him are reports of fire and brimstone raining in Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital, forcing his the traditional council he left behind engaging in actions unworthy of a body which is supposed to be subservient to constitutional arrangements.
On the orders of the Kumasi Traditional Council, the management of Kumasi-based Oyerepa FM and TV are to temporarily halt operations effective today, Friday, August 26, 2022, having been banned from doing so.
The council led by acting President, Baffuor Owusu Amankwatia VI, who is the Bantamahene, is also demanding an unqualified apology from the management of the station over comments made by the leader and founder of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Akwasi Addai Odike, on its platform.
Odike, incurred the wrath of the Kumasi Traditional Council, following comments he made against chiefs, questioning their role in the fight against illegal mining activities in the Ashanti Region.
He was also accused of threatening to incite the youth to rise against chiefs if they fail to play their roles in curbing the illegal mining menace.
His comments were, however, described as distasteful and disrespectful by members of the Kumasi Traditional Council.
The Council is asking the management of the media house to use proper traditionally laid-down procedures in rendering the apology.
The Bantamahene, said “we are demanding that the media house will render an unqualified apology to us. We want them to use the appropriate channel in doing so. Also, the media house should temporarily halt its operations until the pending issues are resolved.”
The management of Oyerepa FM and TV were invited by the Council yesterday to the Manhyia Palace as part of deliberations on the said comments.
Baffuor Amankwatia VI, made the announcement when a team from Oyerepa FM and TV appeared before the Traditional Council to offer an apology over remarks made by Akwasi Addai ‘Odike’ against Manhyia on their network.
The media house was represented by its Chief Executive Officer, the Head of Programs, the host of the talk show on which the comments were made, and other staff members.
Some unknown armed men on Monday raided the Ashanti Region offices of the UPP and caused damage to the facility.
Police in the Ashanti Region are still investigating Monday’s incident.
Akwasi Addai ‘Odike’ has in the meantime been explaining his inability to appear before the Kumasi Traditional Council yesterday.
According to him, he failed to show up because he has been banished from entering the Manhyia Palace.
Mr Akwasi Addai, who spoke in an interview on Joy FM‘s said “I did not go because I have been banished from Manhyia Palace and traditional instructions have to be respected,” he said.
Mr Addai, has since been banished for comments he made on Kumasi-based Oyerepa FM, where he unequivocally criticised the chiefs for failing to help end the galamsey menace.
He was also accused of inciting the youth to rise up and demonstrate against chiefs if they fail to come clear on their roles in or stance against illegal mining.
The chiefs in this regard considered the words of Odike as disrespectful and slaughtered a ram in a traditional rite to prevail on the gods to help resist any rebellion against the Asante Kingdom.
Mr Addai, said banishment “is a spiritual matter, it is not as physical as you may term them. I have been banished, a sheep has been slaughtered, a slur has been cast on my personality, it is not a joke so if I step there, anybody can come after me that I have disrespected the elders and come to the palace where I have been banished and kill me,” he said.
Mr Addai, asked the Kumasi Traditional Council to terminate the banishment before he can go before them and render his apology and also pay for his wrongs.
When asked if that means he admits he was wrong, he replied in the negative.
According to him, the Kumasi Traditional Council would “have to start the whole process again” insisting he does not know where he went wrong.
“They have to terminate the banishment first before I can appear before them. Then it is just like a court, they will tell you ABCD is not pleasant to us, so retract them and apologise. So I don’t know now where I went wrong,” he added.
