The Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, has warned that he may begin collecting taxes on his own if what he describes as the public elevation of the Asantehene by the state continues.
His comments follow President John Mahama’s appearance with the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, at the Ghana Journalists Association Awards, where both the flag of the Asante Kingdom and the national flag of Ghana were displayed.
Speaking on the matter, Agyeman Badu II said the scene troubled him because, in his view, Ghana has only one political leader.
He stressed that wherever the President appears in an official capacity, only the national flag should be on display.
He argued that the presence of any other flag alongside the President sends the wrong signal and creates confusion about authority in the country. According to him, traditional leaders hold important cultural roles but should not be projected in ways that appear to place them on the same level as the Head of State.
The Dormaahene said his warning about collecting taxes independently was meant to draw attention to what he sees as an imbalance that must be corrected.
He urged the government to respect national symbols and ensure that official events reflect the unity of the state.
