The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has stated categorically that President John Dramani Mahama is not governing the country from the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, the traditional seat of the Asantehene.

According to the Asantehene, the president is governing the country from the Flagstaff House in Accra, warning the public to refrain from spreading wild rumours about him.

Otumfuo said he was aware of speculations in town that President Mahama was always at the Manhyia Palace, where he seemed to be ruling the country from.

He said he hardly saw the President in a face-to-face situation, yet, some people had been peddling rumours that he had quite often been with him at the Manhyia Palace.

Otumfuo, who was addressing the Kumasi Traditional Council at the Manhyia Palace last Thursday, disclosed that he often saw President Mahama on the television, so he was alarmed by the rumour.

Political Party

The Asantehene debunked another speculation that he is a member of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and said he suspected New Patriotic Party (NPP) supporters of being behind the rumours.

Regarding another speculation by some people that he is a staunch member of the largest opposition political party in the country – the NPP – the Overlord of the Asante Kingdom said there was no truth in it, and equally accused the NDC of churning out the rumour.

The Asantehene stated that his position as the occupant of the Golden Stool was far above partisan politics and so nobody should try to link him with any political party.

Bribing Of Judges

The Asantehene vehemently denied speculations that President Mahama and the NDC used him as conduit to bribe the Supreme Court Judges to rule the 2012 election petition in favour of President Mahama.

He said he despised bribery and all other illegal activities, adding that nobody could bribe him, and that, it was impossible for him to condone anything which had something to do with bribery.

The Asantehene stated that as the occupant of the Golden Stool, nobody in the country could send or use him to do something on that person’s behalf, irrespective of that person’s position.

Caution To Chiefs

He sternly cautioned chiefs in the Asante Kingdom to refrain from all illegal activities, including double or multiple sale of lands, which he asserted, had the tendency of erupting resentment and tension in society.

Otumfuo urged the traditional rulers to play leading roles for their people by providing them with schools, public places of convenience, potable water, developmental projects, among others.