Chiefs in Manyhia in the Ashanti region have resolved to lodge a formal complaint with the National Media Commission to haul the editor and publisher of the Free Press Newspaper to retract the “malicious allegations” of bribery against the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

The New Free Press newspaper recently published an allegation that Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II brokered a bribery deal between President Mahama and two of the nine justices that sat on the election petition case.

The Manhyia Palace has already denied the allegation in a statement describing the allegation as “insulting and reprehensible”.

Some accusing fingers have also been pointed at the main opposition NPP as being behind the publication, but its General Secretary, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, in an interview with XYZ News said his party has no hand in the publication.

However, at an emergency meeting held on Thursday, Chairman of the Asanteman Standing Committee, the Mamponghene Daasebre Osei Bonsu II stated that in “view of the gravity of the false allegation, the standing committee decided that a formal complaint be lodged with the National Media Commission to invoke their constitutional mandate to call on the Editor and Publisher of the New Free Press to retract the malicious publication”.

The Mamponghene added that the “grave, malicious and vicious falsehood was calculated to castigate the honour and dignity of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

An Asanteman Council meeting is expected to be held on Thursday 19 September after the return of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II who is out of the country for an appropriate action to be taken on the matter.