Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 23 June '99

Mr Kojo Yankah, Ashanti Regional Minister has said that he finds it very unfortunate that the productive discussions between President Jerry John Rawlings and Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene have been misinterpreted in certain quarters.

Mr Yankah said, "it is certain that most of the chiefs, who were present at the meeting expressed utmost satisfaction at the opportunity offered for the Castle and Manhyia Palace to have frank and fruitful discussions on matters of regional and national interests".

In a statement issued in Kumasi, the Regional Minister said it is healthy for avenues of dialogue to be constantly opened for the free flow of discussions.

Mr Yankah said he also believes that "it is in the best interest of the whole nation for the on-going comments on the meeting to address issues that bind us together as one people".

"After all that was the essence of the deliberations that took place at the historic meeting between President Rawlings and the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu 11", he added.

On Friday, June 18, the Asantehene led a delegation of paramount chiefs of Asante to thank President Rawlings for his presence and the assistance of the government during the burial of the late Asantehene, Otumfuo Opoku Ware II in Kumasi.

At the said meeting, President Rawlings was reported to have taken on the media saying, excesses are committed by the media against individuals as well as those in authority "thus destroying traditional respect for authority".

He also criticised the Chiefs for not helping to check some of these excesses.