National Security Intervenes

The National Security Advisor, Brigadier Joseph Nunoo-Mensah (rtd), yesterday appealed to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and his chiefs to exercise restraint while government investigates the Tuobodom impasse. Brig. Nunoo-Mensah, led a high-powered government delegation to the Manhyia Palace to discuss the violence following the alleged kidnap of the Tuobodomhene on the orders of the Techimanhene last week. He assured Asantehene and Asanteman Council that the government will not shield anyone involved in criminal activities. He appealed to Nananom to let peace prevail and not to add to existing tension. He promised the Asantehene, that his concern and that of Asanteman as a whole, will be conveyed to the President. Otumfuo Osei Tutu complained about the conduct of the Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister and the Regional Police Commander over the incident. He said Asanteman is for peace and that they want all those involved in the kidnapping of Omanhene of Tuobodum to face the full riguors of the law. Otumfuo said as a law abiding citizen, he will not shield any criminal and as such anyone involved in criminal activities should not be allowed to go unpunished. Citizen�s unrest has its own parameters and did not see why the Tuobodomhene was sent to Techimanhene�s palace and not to the police station. He recalled the history of the Asante confederation which was established through Wars 400 years ago and explained that Brong-Ahafo used to the Western Ashanti. Meanwhile, a large number of �machomen� yesterday besieged the Manhyia Palace to register their anger over the issue. They chanted war songs. Other members of the delegation were Dr Joe Oteng-Adjei, Minister of Energy, Alhaji Collins Dauda, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources and Asiedu Nketsia, General Secretary of NDC, Christine Amoako Nuamah, a leading member of NDC and Kwadwo Bonsu, chairman of National Sports Council. Earlier, the Regional Security Council led by the Regional Minister, Kofi Opoku Manu and other heads of security agencies called on the Asantehene to brief him on the issue. Mr Manu pleaded with the Asantehene for amicable solution to the problem, saying that �the Asantes and Bonos have lived peacefully for a very long time�.