A famous Ghanaian journalist, Afia Pokua, is in trouble after her apology to the Ashanti king, Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II, was rejected.
The issue started when Ms. Pokua criticized the king for how he handles tension with other ethnic groups and questioned why even the president shows so much respect to him.
According to Ms. Pokua, the Asante community should not be seen as more important than the rest of Ghana. She shared her frustrations during an interview on Onua TV, saying that even the president bows to the king, which upset many people.
BBC reported that the Ashanti king is highly respected in Ghana, with his title “Asantehene” meaning “greater god,” so insulting him is seen as a big offense.
Ms. Pokua’s comments, including mentioning that the king, who is in his 70s, might be hard of hearing, sparked anger from the Ashanti kingdom.
A royal historian explained to BBC that no one can criticize the king directly; instead, they must go through the queen mother, who is the only person allowed to rebuke him.
Ms. Pokua tried to apologize by going to the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, where she knelt on the ground in a traditional display of respect, but the king’s representatives rejected her apology.
BBC explained that the reason her apology was not accepted was because she did not follow the right steps. To properly apologize, Ms. Pokua should have gone through the Agona traditional authority, bringing her parents and the TV station owners with her.
Only after the Agona chief accepted the apology would she have been taken to the Ashanti king for forgiveness. The historian added that it’s not too late for Ms. Pokua if she follows the correct procedures.
This situation highlights the deep cultural respect that the Ashanti people have for their king, showing how important it is to follow tradition in matters of apology and criticism.
BBC’s report gives us a unique look into how respect for royalty works in Ghana.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgj4l8x0874o