A former First Lady of Ghana (1982-2001), Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings has intimated that the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, made some quiet but frantic efforts to ensure a peaceful resolution to the Arab Spring which had Libya and Egypt as the epicenters after it erupted in Tunisia.
His Majesty the King of Asante Kingdom in Ghana did not want the upheavals to spiral out of control, hence did make some attempts to reach Col. Mummar Gadhafi to allow peace to reign with an exit from Libya.
Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings & Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings
According to the former First Lady, the Asantehene did not want the scene to descend into total chaos in which militants and devious characters streamed to the West Coast of Africa (West Africa) and probably other regions of the continent, to export and cause political instability. The King, therefore, placed calls on her husband, Flt. Lt. Jerry Rawlings to talk to Col.Gadhafi to cooperate and to ensure that the authorities find the handle in the turbulence. She said she got to know about the concern of the King when he routed through her, the attempt to reach her husband.
It is not known whether the efforts at reaching the former Libyan Leader materialized or paid off but the long-time ruler of Libya was killed in October 2011, and Libya further degenerated into anarchy. What the King of Asante wanted to prevent appears to be happening as some of the fighters streamed southwards of Africa’s geopolitical space to cause further trouble. Countries in the eye of the stormy terrorist attacks include Burkina Faso and Mali.
Former leaders Jerry Rawlings and Col. Gadhafi were both military officers who pandered to the center-left ideologically. Both connected well in the initial period of their revolutions. Libya in 1969 and Ghana in 1979. Jerry Rawlings who died of natural causes in November 2020, succeeded in putting Ghana on a stable political and democratic footing which has spanned 30 years, the longest period of civilian rule, and is globally touted as a beacon.
For his part, the King of Asante is internationally-recognized for his over-arching peace initiatives via traditional means. He is conferred with the title of the Pillar of Peace by the United Nations, the African Union, and other international bodies, to wit, a peace bell is instituted at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, Ghana to symbolize the fervent role he plays in ensuring peace within and outside the Republic Ghana. His Majesty is also a champion for the creation of economic opportunities and the promotion of human dignity which provides avenues for socially disadvantaged persons and those who for the lack of them indulge in rabble-rousing.
Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings made the revelation when contacted by a media team that was studying the achievements of the King of Asante since his assumption of the Gold Stool of the powerful ancient kingdom in 1999.
