The Mfantseman Council in the Ashanti Region has thrown its support for the Manhyia Palace in the wake of bribery allegation levelled against the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II in connection with the just-ended Supreme Court election petition hearing. At a meeting in Kumasi, the Mfantse Sompahen, who doubles as Atonsu Mfantsehen, Okofo Amamoo Baidoo, lamented the development after the outcome of the election petition. Members of the Mfantseman Council had met to plan for the one-week celebration of the death of Mfantsemahen in the Ashanti Region, Nana Arkorful Owese. He was 60. He said Ghanaians accorded respect to their chieftaincy institutions and that allegations of bribery could have been relegated to the background. He said the bribery allegation leveled against the occupant of the Golden Stool, the Asantehene, would be one of the “highest disrespect" to the Asante Kingdom and asked that the publisher, The New Free Press, retracts the story. Retraction, he believed, would be the most appropriate apology to the stool, the entire Asanteman and the chieftaincy institution in the country. Okofo Baidoo, on behalf of the council, commended the 2012 New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential Candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, for accepting the judgement of the Supreme Court, saying that his good example would be on record for others to follow. He however advised all peace-building institutions, the media and the general public to continue the crusade against instability and possible disturbances even after the judgement of the Supreme Court. On Wednesday, September 4, 2013, an online publication by the New Free Press made the allegation that the Asantehene was used as a conduit to bribe and influence the nine justices of the Supreme Court. A newspaper review of the publication was aired on several radio stations, including Kumasi-based Kessben Fm, where some unidentified macho men attacked some workers.