After hours of pleading at Manhyia Palace, Afia Pokua was asked to leave and never set foot there again.
Not even the faction of elders who advocated for her could persuade the Otumfuo’s representative to accept her apology.
One elder pleaded on Afia Pokua’s behalf, that she (Pokua), had been on her knees since her arrival and had brought an apology that should be considered.
However, the Otumfuo’s representative remained resolute, stating that in the palace, an apology isn’t always sufficient in such matters.
He emphasised that there are times when offenders are left to face their consequences, and Afia Pokua’s situation was one of those.
“Who are you to disrespect the Otumfuo? If you’ve grown wings, don’t direct them towards Kumasi. You said you’re from Kwahu but the people of Kwahu even broke away from the Ashanti region. It is our language they speak.
“Take your cursed self and your troubles with you. Whatever you encounter in the future, face it alone. Never set foot here again,” he stated bluntly.
With those final words, the case was closed.
Afia Pokua, Mona Gucci, and their delegation drove away in their vehicle.
Afia Pokua and Mona Gucci summoned
After apologising on their respective social media platforms for disrespecting the Asantehene and offering another apology on live TV, Afia Pokua and Mona Gucci honoured the invitation to Manhyia Palace to deliver a formal apology to Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
They were accompanied by Prophet Kumchacha and a delegation from Onua TV, the media house where Afia Pokua made comments about the Asantehene.
Dressed in all black, Afia Pokua was seen kneeling in front of the Otumfuo’s representative almost throughout the proceedings.
Moderated by the Otumfuo’s Okyeame (Linguist), both parties addressed the issues, and the offenders presented their third apology to the delegation.
Background
The controversy began when Afia Pokua, a journalist at Agoo TV, criticised the Asantehene for his perceived silence amid ongoing conflicts involving his subjects and other tribes, including the Bonos.
On Onua FM’s ‘Bribi Gye Gye wo,’ hosted by Mona Gucci, Pokua expressed frustration with what she sees as Ashantis proving superiority over other tribes and the Asantehene’s refusal to act on it.
These statements have sparked massive outrage among the Ashantis, with many individuals, including sub-chiefs and queen mothers, openly voicing their criticism.
Also, the irate Asante youth staged a protest and held a press conference to address the situation.
EB/ADG
