The King of the Ashanti Kingdom, Otumfour Osei Tutu II has warned all chiefs in the Ashanti region to desist from actively engaging in partisan political activities which has the potential to undermine the role of traditional leaders in the kingdom and by extension the country.

The Asantehene’s comments come on the back of countless endorsements from various traditional leaders across the country for political party flagbearers especially John Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Nana Akufo Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Otumfour said “when the various political party flagbearers pay a courtesy call on you as a chief, receive them warmly, listen to them, wish them well and send them on their way. When they come with gifts do not be swayed by these gifts and start endorsing them.

“When they bring the gifts collect them but do not engage in politics with them. Do not let those gifts force you to slip into making politically sensitive comments” he added.

He said these when he addressed the final session of the 2016 Ashanti regional house of chiefs which had all the traditional leaders under his jurisdiction in attendance.

Speaking in the local dialect, the Asantehene said “renounce your stool if you want to do politics, abdicate your position as a chief if you want to engage in political party activities because occupants of the stool are not supposed to be involved in partisan politics.”

Some chiefs in the Ashanti region who openly declared their support for the NPP’s flagbearer, Nana Akufo Addo.

Ghana’s constitution clearly states that chiefs and other traditional leaders are not to actively participate in partisan politics, a constitutional provision which has been flouted several times.

By Martin Asiedu-Dartey|3news.com|Ghana
Twitter: @3newsgh