Royal historian Osei Bonsu Sarfo Kantanka, who works for the Asantehene, has told the BBC that there are specific steps one must follow in order to criticize the overlord of the Ashanti Kingdom. "You go through the queen mother - she is the only person who can rebuke him.
If you don't go through the queen mother and instead do it yourself, then you're in trouble," he said in a report by Asaaseradio.com.
The historian's comments come after journalist Afia Pokua criticized the Asantehene's handling of tensions with other ethnic groups and expressed frustration about the deference politicians show him.
Pokua remarked on the apparent supremacy of the Asante community and was particularly critical of the reverence shown by national leaders. "Even the president bowed to show respect to the chief," Pokua said in an interview with Mona Gucci earlier this month on local channel Onua TV.