Otumfuo Over politicization of national issues threat to democracy

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, has said the over politicization of national development issues poses a great threat to the nation’s democracy. He blames politicians and the media for the unnecessary tendency of the citizenry to politicize issues bordering on the country’s future, saying it undermines efforts at building a strong and prosperous nation. Otumfuo who was speaking at a New Year thanksgiving service at the Bantama Presbyterian Church in Kumasi, also attended by former President J.A. Kufuor and some ministers of his government. The Asantehene chastised social commentators for hiding behind freedom of speech to rain insults on the country’s leaders through what he described as unyielding debates. According to Nhyira FM’s Kofi Asante who witnessed the service, Otumfuo cautioned that should the practice persist, the country risks losing good quality, God fearing people in public office because they will not offer themselves. While Otumfuo also blamed politicians for doing little to improve Ghana’s fragile democracy, he charged the media to give more attention to development issues than the politics that dominate national discourse presently. He also charged Ghanaians to throw their weight behind the president as the choice of the citizenry to enable them champion national development efforts for the benefit of the people. Otumfuo further called on the church to pray for peace and faith for the leaders of the country. He vowed to wage war against the numerous land disputes in the region to facilitate development.