In a recent public appearance that has captured the attention of many, Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo found himself at the center of an unexpected protocol debate. The incident in question unfolded when the President requested Mampontenhene to stand before shaking his hand, a moment that has since sparked considerable discussion and a touch of amusement across the nation.

To fully appreciate the nuances of this situation, one must first understand the context. Mampontenhene, along with other chiefs seated next to him, are part of the Oyoko Clan, one of the twelve traditional divisions in the Asante Kingdom. Significantly, the Oyoko Clan is the ruling clan of the Asante Kingdom, with the Asantehene himself hailing from this lineage. Mampontenhene is thus a brother to the Otumfuo Asantehene.

Interestingly, President Akufo-Addo and the Mampontenhene go way back. Those who are aware of their relationship know that they have been friends for a very long time.

Traditionally, it would have been expected for Mampontenhene to stand and greet the President given that he occupies the highest position of the land, however, there’s more to this story than meets the eye. It’s well-known in Manhyia that Otumfuo has been excusing Mampontenhene from standing due to health reasons. For months now, the Otumfuo has humorously advised others not to worry “his old man,” prioritizing Mampontenhene’s presence over his participation in standing ceremonies.

Given this well-known exemption, it raises the question of whether President Akufo-Addo was aware of Mampontenhene’s health condition. Here lies the intrigue: the President and Mampontenhene know each other personally and well, albeit with a recent souring of relations. This shift in their relationship followed a demonstration led by Mampontenhene’s people against the President’s perceived neglect of their roads. Notably, in the last two elections, President Akufo-Addo received the highest votes in the Ashanti Region from the Kwabre enclave, Mampontenhene’s domain.

Could the President’s seeming disrespect towards the senior chief be as a result of the fact that he led his people to demand better from government, after delivering the highest number of votes in the Ashanti Region? Or is it simply the case of a man extremely hungry for the veneration that comes with the office he occupies?

Well, this new habit of the President started from the Volta Region, then it drifted to the Greater Accra, and now it has entered the Ashanti Region, where many people said it would never dare enter.

With the President still left with a few months in office, who knows which other chief or traditional ruler he would ask next to stand up and greet him. Whatever happens, the Akufo-Addo who received the highest popular votes in the history of Ghana’s 4th Republic has arguably also been the most popular President for all the wrong reasons.

Source: GhanaCelebrities.Com