I Work with Whoever Ghanaians Elect: Asantehene Reaffirms Political Neutrality and Alignment with President Mahama in Canada | Discuss Ghana

The undisputed custodian of the Golden Stool has delivered a masterclass in statesmanlike neutrality, shutting down chronic partisan attempts to paint his throne with political colors. Speaking to a roaring, packed auditorium of the Ghanaian diaspora in Toronto, Canada, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, firmly declared that his absolute institutional loyalty rests solely with the sovereign will of the Ghanaian electorate—stating point-blank that he is fully and structurally working with President John Dramani Mahama.

Addressing the enthusiastic crowd on Saturday night, June 20, 2026, during his high-profile Canadian tour, the King pulled back the curtain on his decades-long diplomatic engagement with the nation’s executive branch. Revealing that he has served as a quiet, backchannel advisory anchor for every single Head of State since the late Jerry John Rawlings, Otumfuo laughed off local media narratives that constantly try to brand him as a secret operative for either the NDC or the NPP.

The Anatomy of a Sovereign Advisory Mandate

The Asantehene’s historic declaration in Toronto outlines a strict, disciplined philosophy of traditional governance built to outlast changing political regimes:

Sovereignty Over Partisanship: The King left no room for ambiguity regarding his relationship with the presidency. "My conviction is that any government elected by the people of Ghana, I have to work with the President and offer him my advice on the quiet," Otumfuo stated with absolute clarity. "I work with whoever Ghanaians elect as President; I am now working with Mahama."

The Intergenerational Roll Call: Tracing his institutional lineage of counsel since ascending the throne in 1999, the King noted he has offered identical, uncompromised advisory structures to Presidents Jerry John Rawlings, John Agyekum Kufuor, John Evans Atta Mills, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and now seamlessly continues that role in President Mahama's second administration.

Amused by the Labels: Addressing the frequent public speculation regarding his personal leanings, the King treated the crowd to a moment of classic, lighthearted candor. "So sometimes they would brand me as NDC, the next time they would say I am NPP," he remarked with a smile. "And in all, I say, I like it and would even add that I am CPP! I do this to ensure there’s peace in Ghana."

THE ASANTEHENE'S INTERGENERATIONAL ADVISORY TIMELINE:
┌────────────────────────────────────────┐      ┌────────────────────────────────────────┐
│          THE HISTORIC RAWLINGS MEETS   │      │          THE CONTEMPORARY 2026 ALIGN   │
├────────────────────────────────────────┤      ├────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ • Inception Year: 1999 (Enstoolment)   │  ──  │ • Current Status: Working hand-in-hand │
│ • Predecessors Counseled: Rawlings,    │  ──  │   with President John Dramani Mahama   │
│   Kufuor, Atta Mills, Akufo-Addo       │      │ • Structural Stance: Strictly neutral; │
│ • Style: Silent, quiet backchannel aid │      │   playfully jokes he belongs to the CPP│
└────────────────────────────────────────┘      └──────────────────────────────────────