Journalist at Agoo TV’s, Afia Pokua, criticised the Overlord of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, earlier this year during an interview with Mona Gucci on local channel Onua TV, where she expressed frustration about the Asantehene’s perceived silence amid ongoing conflicts involving his subjects and other tribes, including the Bonos.
Her comments were met with harsh reactions given the reverence the Asantehene is given in Ghana and even inernationally.
In reaction to this, she travelled to the Asantehene’s residence, Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, to apologise for her remarks during the interview.
Dorning a black dress and in the company of some elders and Mona Gucci, she knelt and begged for forgiveness, but her apology was rejected as some elders of the Asantehene talked don on her for her ‘disrespect’ towards the Otumfuo.
Her treatment at Manhyia gained traction online as many perceived that as the genesis of her downfall in her career but she has labelled it as a blessing in disguise, naming opportunities that have come her way following the incident.
During an appearance in an interview, the Agoo TV journalist revealed that the controversy brought her unexpected fame and opened doors to opportunities she had never imagined.
“The issue that happened gave me the exposure I never expected. I won’t focus on the negatives; the positives have been huge. Do you know the massive fame and popularity I’ve gained because of this? Do you know the kind of contacts I now have? If I tell you the number and type of contacts on my phone, you’ll be shocked.
“You saw where you met me today, right? It was just a phone call, and this chief (Owoahene) asked me to be the MC for his birthday. He had never met me before; this is the first time I’m seeing him. The person who connected us is my godfather. So, when I look at it, the positives far outweigh the negatives,” she said in an interview with Smart Ghana TV.
In response to the elders’ statements at the Manhyia Palace stating that she was cursed, Afia Pokua firmly rejected such claims.
“I don’t have any curses on my life. I pray like crazy. What the heavens have said concerning my life is what will manifest, not what any human being says.”
Afia Pokua added that 2024 has been a turning point for her.
“2024 has been my year. I won’t deny God the praise. If for anything at all, He has looked after my family, loved ones, and even my enemies. So I am grateful,” she stated.