Founder and Leader of United Progressive Party (UPP) Mr. Kwasi Addai Odike has been declared persona non grata by the Kumasi Traditional Council (KTC).
This is as a result of alleged distasteful comments he made against Manhyia Palace and the Ashanti Kingdom.
The Bantamahene, Baffour Owusu Amankwatia VI, led other chiefs to perform rituals and slaughter a sheep to signify the banishment.
This indicates that Odike, until he purges himself of the alleged contempt comments, cannot step foot in the Manhyia Palace.
The comments which has landed the political activist in trouble is said to have been made on Oyerepa FM, a local radio station in Kumasi.
Mr. Odike in an interview with the radio station accused Manhyia Palace of being complicit in the destruction of the environment in the Ashanti region.
He premised his allegation on the rampant illegal mining taking place in the region which according to him, the traditional authority seems unconcerned about the impact on the environment.
“How are you going to account for the destruction that you have sat aloof to happen under your watch? If God calls your today, what account are you going to give to God”? He asked in Twi as translated into English
Mr. Odike who sound concerned about the environmental destruction taking place in the Ashanti Region as a result of illegal mining posited the humanity will suffer if the environment is destroyed, saying “When the last tree dies, the last man dies.”
In what seem like a direct accusation of the Manhyia Palace, Mr Odike said, “Otumfuo, all the paramount chiefs are under your control; Do you think what you are doing is good? When you get the opportunity, you talk to politicians and deny being involved in galamsey, but you are involved in the galamsey, else it would not have gotten to this stage. Our lands and forest are being destroyed, what do you need all this money for?” He quizzes.
According to him, well-meaning Ghanaians have spoken again galamsey but traditional authorities have turned deaf ear to these admonitions.
source: theGhanaianvoice.com
