The Kumasi Youth Association (KUYA), a youth group with links to the Manhyia Palace has called for a halt in what they term as political persecution of ASANTES by some persons in government.
The group through a press statement gives strong indication to resist all attempts to cow ASANTES into submission.
This reporter publishes the full statement as released by the group.
_ASANTE WILL NEVER SETTLE FOR LESS—BY KUMASI YOUTH ASSOCIATION(KuYA)
Nananom, invited guests, media team, ladies and gentlemen. This press conference as a matter of fact is very urgent and necessary within the times of Asante history. We will like to specially thank the media for honoring our invitation always and marking your presence today also. You have indeed been a partner for the good cause of Asanteman! Ayekoo!
INTRODUCTION
For the past few weeks, events unfolding in this country has given us a cause to worry as to the deliberate agenda clearly targeted at disrespecting the Authority of our Asante Kingdom, first to our Overlord, His council of chiefs and also destroying trail blazing Asante Businessmen and Politicians of national repute, starting with Hon Isaac Osei( Former CEO-TOR/MP), Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, the founder of UniBank Ghana Ltd, et al
This press release is categorized in three main aspects , namely; *attack on Manhyia, and Nananom Kumasi Traditional Council, aftermath of KuYA Asanteman kyefa demonstration, and also attack on Industrious Asantes of high repute both in Business and Politics
ATTACK ON MANHYIA
The commanding heights attained by our Asante Kingdom, cannot be overemphasized, hence the respect and reverence that every government, here and abroad, give to our Asante Overlord(The King) Otumfuo, his chiefs and we Asantes in general. However, it has come to light that some people within the corridors of power (government) have assumed a rather strange attitude that seeks to belittle our Asante Traditional Authorities, first by attacking the representation of our chiefs at the local government assemblies.
The Patrons, Executives and entire members of Kumasi Youth Association(KuYA) unequivocally expresses our regret and disappointment in the local governance system in the Greater Kumasi (that is, KMA/Other Municipals) for strategically planning to reduce the powers of Manhyia in the local governance of the Greater Kumasi.
According to the local government act, “Traditional leaders are accorded prominent role in Ghanaian local government, in acknowledgement that a number of District assembly have been carved out of areas of jurisdiction of traditional authorities. Nine (9) percent of assembly seats are reserved for traditional leaders.
This unfortunately is marred in the Greater Kumasi, that is the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly and the Newly Municipals created out of KMA. This is because instead of promoting a retrospective involvement of the traditional system, we are rather seeing the opposite of that, where the traditional system is on the route of been eliminated and in the worse case annihilated drastically from the local governance system in the region.
The Patrons, Executives, and entire members of KuYA throws our unflinching support behind Nananom on their rejection of the decision by Central government and fervently seek for a redress of the decision because this new development will rather weaken the cordial ties between the local government authorities and the traditional system in the Region. We legibly see this development as synonymous to a ploy to weaken Manhyia’s authority in the region. This suffices that the traditional system which is Paramount in the Ghanaian system is now put to dust.
We also strongly asserts with no doubt on our minds that the Regional Minister, Hon Simon Osei-Mensah intentionally disrespected Manhyia by turning a deaf ear to Nananom’s call on him to reconsider the infamous KMA’s decision. This is a very demeaning attitude from the Regional Minister.
