GJA Wants Restrained Reportage On The War Of Words Between Otumfuor And Dormaahene

The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has called on the media to exercise circumspection in its report on the tensions between the Asantehen, Otumfuor Osei Tutu ll and the Dormaahene, Osagyefo Agyeman Badu ll.

In a statement dated 19th January 2022 and signed by President Affail Monney, journalists were urged not to stoke the tensions further with their reports despite the fact that both traditional rulers had adequately whipped up dangerous tension between themselves already.

“It is needless to state that the hyper-sensitive issue involving the two prominent chiefs can degenerate into a conflict of unthinkable proportions if it is not handled with the highest degree of circumspection especially by the media,” the GJA wrote in a rather intimidated tone.

“The sensational tilt and explosive angles which have characterized the coverage of the verbal exchanges should therefore give way to conflict-sensitive reporting which will allow tempers to cool down and the issue to be contained or resolved in the long run,” the statement said.

The Asantehene stirred up headlines when he vowed at a meeting of the Asanteman Council to “face squarely,” some chiefs sabotaging paramountcies in other regions which owe allegiance to the golden stool.

According to the Otumfuor, intimidation and attacks on some chiefs of Asanteman territories in Bono will not be allowed to pass without Asanteman taking action.

“In the Bono region where Nananom who owe allegiance have become subjects of attacks, we will face them squarely,” Otumfuo vowed in the meeting with the Asanteman Council, the highest decision-making body of the Asante Kingdom, in Kumasi.

According to reports, the Asantehene’s anger was sparked by attempts by Drobohene to oppose the elevation of Japekrom into a Paramountcy.

The overlord of Ashanti specifically named Dormaa as a place where suchlike machinations are going on with reports indicating he was angered by moves by the Drobohene to oppose the elevation of Japekrom to paramountcy status.

“Awuah-Domase was founded by the son of Bantamahene. Nobody can be enstooled as chief without the approval of Banatahene. None dare do this without the express approval of Bantamahene. If you like, hide behind the Bono region and do your worst. I will nullify any enstoolment.

“In the same manner, I want to tell those in Bono East; All those who have sworn the oath of allegiance before me are my paramount chiefs,” the Asantehene said.

However, the Dormahene Agyeman Badu II had called out the Otumfuo, saying he had no such powers over the chiefs in Bono. According to him, historically, the chiefs of Dormaa and in most parts of the Bono region were of a higher rank than the Ashanti king because the people of Ashanti were once the slaves of these people in Bono formerly called the Denkyira people.

The Dormahene reminded the Otumfuo that the Denkyira people had defeated the Ashantis in several tribal wars and had made the Ashantis woodcutters and slaves.

Amidst this raging war of words, the GJA in its statement calls on editors, especially traditional media, to edit out all explosive language from the misunderstanding between the two traditional rulers in order to tamper down tensions.

“The GJA particularly wants traditional media editors and social media activists to filter any pronouncements from the two chiefs through a very tight weave of journalistic responsibility and gatekeeping. In other words, they should think through the consequences or weigh fully the implications of anything they put out on the matter,” the media association wrote.