The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako has said he has forbidden former President John Dramani Mahama from stepping foot on Asante land again for casting aspersions at Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, MyNewsGh.com reports.
According to ‘Chairman Wontumi’ the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has subtly unleashed his “attack dogs” to attack the hard-won global reputation of the Golden Stool and its occupant, whom he says Mr Mahama has “demonstrated so much hatred for”.
The former president has come under heavy criticisms from the people of the Ashanti region and especially from the ruling NPP, who’s stronghold the region is, after a former Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah published a statement to debunk a comment at the UN by the Asantehene that, he had to persuade Mr John Mahama to concede defeat after the 2016 elections.
Mr Mahama’s critics say the use of his official letterhead to carry Mr Debrah’s response was his cunning way to call the revered monarch a “liar’.
Speaking in an interview on Kumasi-based Angel FM monitored by MyNewsGh.com, ‘Wontumi’ challenged the former president to step foot in the Ashanti region if he is man enough, because according to him, “the wife of Mr Mahama, Lordina was pushing his husband to defy the warnings and embark on a trip to the Ashanti region”.
In a related development, the Ashanti Youth Association (AYA) has also given a 48-hour ultimatum to the former president to cause two of his former appointees; Julius Debrah and Edward Omane Boamah apologize to the king or remain perpetually banished from the region.
At a press conference in Kumasi, they also threatened to close down all NDC party offices in the Ashanti region if the party fails to state its position on the matter within five working days.