Accra (Greater Accra), 22 March '99 -

Mr Dan Markin, Chairman of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), on Sunday called on the media to refrain from publishing articles critical of persons seeking nomination to become the next Asantehene. In a statement issued in Accra, Mr Markin referred to Nana Akwasi Agyemang, Municipal Chief Executive of Kumasi, as one such victim who has been singled out for vicious attacks by the media because of "his uncompromising stand to stamp out lawlessness in the area". He noted that the death of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Opoku Ware the Second, which should serve as a unifying period for Ghanaians had rather become an opportunity for a section of the media to sow seeds of discord, disunity and unnecessary acrimony. "The process of electing a new Asantehene is a solemn and sacred tradition and must not be conducted in the pages of the tabloids. The media should, therefore, respect the traditional values and customs of Asanteman by refraining from the current sensational press commentary". Mr Markin said Nana Agyemang, as a royal, has demonstrated good leadership by helping his people to maintain a clean environment befitting the status of Kumasi. "Efforts of people like him who are prepared to put the trappings of royalty aside and join their people in keeping the environment clean deserve commendation and not the condemnation we are reading in the papers." Mr Markin described this action as sheer hypocrisy on the part of the media "which has constantly lampooned government for the excesses of the revolutionary days and even called for exorcising of the bitterness by establishing a truth and reconciliation commission". He said the position of an Asantehene is one of the most important traditional titles in the country and requires that the kingmakers be left in absolute peace to decide on the successor.