Ashanti Youth Association CAUTIONS former president to withdraw statement against Otumfuo

The Ashanti Youth Association (AYA) has condemned the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and has given them an ultimatum to retract and apologise to Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and Manhyia or face their wrath.

They describe the NDC`s action as attempt to use their political games to destroy the Asante Kingdom.

The AYA comments came after the former President John Dramani Mahama`s office released a statement denying the involvement of The Asantehene in his decision to concede defeat in the 2016 general elections.

Nana Oppong Boadu, The Director of Operations for the Association, called on the former President John Mahama to disassociate himself from the press statement released by the former Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah.

According to the Association, failure to retract the statement and apologise within 48 hrs will have a very serious consequence for himself and the NDC party in the Asante Kingdom.

“We are giving John Mahama 48 hrs to come and retract that he didn’t instruct Julius Debrah to issue that statement. Other than that we are going to make the Asante Kingdom a very hostile place for himself and his party,” Nana Oppong Boadu stated.

The Asantehene, in his speech at the United Nations (UN) Conference over the weekend made claims over his intervention, persuading the then loosing candidate to accept defeat in the 2016 general elections; a claim which has been denied by the office of the former President Mahama. The statement by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has also faced a strong negative reaction from the public mostly the NDC sympathizers.

Meanwhile the Director of Operations for the Asante Youth, has expressed his displeasure over some political party leaders in attempt to downplay relevance of the Asantehene and Manhyia in the country`s democracy.

“It is very sad that the King has raised the bar and the flag of Ghana and Asanteman and this is how we are paying back. Even if the King erred, this is not the way the NDC should have responded because we have all seen the role the Asantehene has played in our elections, we have seen it. The King has played so many roles in our democratic dispensation, we cannot allow any political party to use their political gains to destroy our Kingdom.” Mr. Oppong Boadu added.