The Kumasi Traditional Council has advised the management of Oyerepa FM in Kumasi, to close down the radio station to show they are remorseful for allowing the founder of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Mr Akwasi Addai Odike, to make ill comments against Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II on its platform.
The Council does not only want the station to be closed down from today, Friday, August 26, 2022, until the issue is resolved at the Manhyia Palace, but also requests an unqualified apology.
The Bantamahene, Baffour Owusu Amankwatia VI, who presided over the Council meeting, said this when the management of the radio station, led by its Chief Executive Officer, was summoned before the Council on Thursday, 25 August 2022, over the matter.
The management of the radio station used the opportunity to apologise to the Manhyia Palace for the comment but the apology was rejected by the Council, explaining that the appropriate customary way of rendering such apology was not followed by the radio station.
The Bantamahene, therefore, advised the management of the radio station to seek wise counsel and render an unqualified and proper apology to the Manhyia Palace through prominent chiefs.
Baffour Amankwatia expressed worry about what, in his view, is the rate at which journalists have been insulting traditional leaders in connection with the galamsey menace, noting that the chiefs are innocent when it comes to illegal mining.
While saying the Constitution does not give any power to chiefs to lease land for mining activities, he noted that miners, nowadays, go to their concessions with special armed patrol security teams – a situation, he bemoaned, the chiefs cannot do anything about.
Baffour Amankwatia also said the regional security council chaired by Ashanti Regional Minister Simon Osei-Mensah, will be invited to the palace on Monday to witness the proceedings concerning Odike’s comments when the management of Oyerepa FM appears before it again.
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