THE Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has urged Ghanaians to stop twisting rulings by the Supreme Court and the 1992 Constitution to suit their parochial interests.
He wondered how Ghana could strive to achieve growth in democracy if Ghanaians were not truthful and honest with themselves.
“We have all decided to be committed to democracy, but then if you look at what is happening now, how are we striving to achieve democracy if we are not truthful to ourselves?” he asked.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu was speaking at the Manhyia Palace at the weekend after the leadership of the Knights of Marshall, a Catholic friendly society, conferred on him (Asantehene) honorary membership of the society for his contribution to human formation and community and national development.
The Supreme Director of the Knights and Ladies of Marshall, Sir Knight Vet. Bro. Dr Edmund S. K. Kwaw, and the Supreme Knight of the Knights of Marshall, Sir Kt Bro Ernest Amoako-Arhen, performed the investiture of the Asantehene as an honorary member of the society.
In attendance were the Catholic Archbishop of Kumasi, the Most Rev. Gabriel Justice Yaw Anokye, and the Archbishop Emeritus of Kumasi, the Most Rev. Akwasi Sarpong.
Peace
The Asantehene wondered how Ghanaians could be talking about peace when they were not being truthful and honest.
“You cannot get to the Asantehene to be talking about peace when we are creating confusion among ourselves because we are not being truthful to ourselves.
“So I will beg of you, all of us, we have a duty to develop Ghana to be honest with ourselves, to be charitable to ourselves and other people, care for people and do good to people,” he entreated Ghanaians.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu acknowledged that Ghanaians were going through some hardships but said they needed to stay together in the task of nation building.
He said he was grateful to have been made an honorary member of the Knights of Marshall.
“Let us together use the society to do good to one another and to the world,” he stated, stressing that “we all have to strive to help humanity; to do good to ourselves and to everybody”.
Supreme Knight
Sir Kt Bro Amoako-Arhen said the honour conferred on the Asantehene was a testimony to the Asantehene’s charitable and good deeds to humanity.
That, he said, was in line with the aims and objectives of the Knights and Ladies of Marshall.
He expressed appreciation to the Asantehene for the support he had been giving to the Kumasi central branch of the society, of which, until recently, three of his chiefs were full members.
Write up by W/Bro Albert Salia