LET US ALL FIGHT RELIGIOUS CRIMES- ASANTEHENE

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu has drawn the world’s attention to the unspeakable beheading of innocent lives as well as forced migration of large numbers of people from their countries as a result of religious persecution. Otumfuo Osei Tutu emphasized that while governments mobilize their military and security arsenal to confront the global challenge head-on, it is imperative for the non-governmental global community whose members are the ultimate victims of such false religious ideologies to also wage war against such unscrupulous people.

The Asantehene said this in an address read for him by the Paramount chief of Asante Asokore at a grand durbar of Asanteman at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi in honour of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Most Reverend Justin Welby on the last day of his two-day pastoral visit to Ghana.

Most Rev. Justin Welby at the durbar in Kumasi

 

 Asanteman Council is the highest decision making authority of the Asante traditional area of Ghana spanning from Ashant, Brong Ahafo and parts of the Volta regon. It is made up 65 paramount chiefs and other chiefs who owe allegiance to the occupant of the Golden Stool. It is the most revered traditional authority in Ghana apart from ther National House of Chiefs and the ten regional houses of chiefs which are recognized by the Republican Constitution and the Chieftaincy Act of Ghana. 

The Archbishop of Canturbury is automatically the Chairman of the Global Anglican Communion which has 37 Provinces across the globe. Upon his induction on 26th November, 2011 as the new global head of the Anglican Church, Most Reverend Justin Welby decided to pay a pastoral visit to each of the Provinces with the West African Province being the 37th he is visiting.

 Currently, Kumasi, and for that matter Ghana, is the seat of the West African Province with Right Reverend Daniel Yinkah Sarfo as the Primate. Most Reverend Welby is on a two-day pastoral visit with his wife, Caroline. On their arrival in Kumasi, they held an in camera meeting with Bishops of the Anglican Church in Kumasi to discuss matters concerning the church.

 At the durbar were almost all the paramount chiefs of Asanteman including those in the Brong Ahafo region who owe allegiance to the Asantehene. They were gorgeously dressed in various designs of the popular Kente cloth. Also present were the President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Most Revered Osei Bonsu and the General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana, Rev. Dr. Kwabena Opuni Frimpong. 

Also present were pupils from some of the Anglican basic schools in Kumasi who held aloft miniature national flags, members of the Anglican faith and a section of the general public to grace the occasion.

In an address read on his behalf by the Paramount Chief Of Asante Asokore, Otumfuo Osei Tutu traced the religious relationship between Asanteman and the Anglican Church to the reign of the late Otumfuo Prempeh The First, who on his return from exile in the Seychelles following the Nana Yaa Asantewaa War with the British, was baptized into the Anglican Communion. From that time, all succeeding occupants of the Golden Stool have been members of the church. 

The Asantehene emphasized the fact that religious conflict is now posing an unprecedented threat to world peace and mentioned Nigeria as a classical example. Otumfiuo Osei Tutu noted that the challenges confronting the world today, including economic difficulties, are not of the temporal world alone saying that Christendom is also facing doctrinal problems too.

 The Asantehene however expressed confidence in the church’s capacity to overcome the challenges that are threatening its unity. He beseeched the Archbishop to intercede for Ghana in particular, and Africa in general in this period of Ebola. 

In his remarks, Most Reverend Justin Welby praised Ghana for showing leadership in governance in Africa. He however advised that natural resources of the country be property managed for the good of the people. Most Rev. Welby commended Otumfuo Osei Tutu for his exemplary leadership and promised to pray for his successful reign. 

The Asantehene, on behalf of the Asanteman Council, donated a wooden Stool embossed with the seal of the Manhyia Palace while his wife, Caroline was given a piece of Kente cloth.