Election 2020: Asantehene cautions chiefs to stop endorsing aspirants

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has cautioned chiefs, particularly those in Asanteman, against endorsing political party aspirants for Election 2020.

He said traditional rulers should maintain the sanctity of the chieftaincy institution by refraining from partisan politics and instead maintain their neutrality.

He noted this addressing the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs (ARHC) at a general meeting in Kumasi on Tuesday, October 7, per a report by GraphicOnline.

The Asantehene said chiefs remained the last resort for resolving conflicts in the country, and that if they were seen to be partisan, it would be difficult for anyone to seek their intervention when conflicts or disputes arose.

According to him, it was for a good reason that the Constitution precluded chiefs from partisan politics and explained that not all the people they presided over would belong to the parties the chiefs supported, for which reason there was the need for chiefs to remain neutral at all times and enjoy the support of their subjects.

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While pointing out that chiefs had the right to vote in elections, he maintained that their choices should be known only to them and not openly display their political support.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu urged the members of the ARHC to maintain the respect accorded to the institution by staying off partisan politics.

The Asantehene said as chiefs, they ought to work with every government to bring development to their people, explaining that that was why when they showed an open bias to a political party, it could affect their relationship with the other political parties.