Chiefs in the Ashanti Kingdom have been gripped with palpitation and fear following the distoolment of Asafohene, Akyamfour Kwame Akowuah III, who was the head of Akwamu Division of the Kumasi Traditional Council (KTC), by the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, last week Thursday.
Recent destoolment of chief of Offinso-Ahenkro, Nana Ahenkro Osei, on Monday, June 24, 2019, at the Manhyia Palace by the Asantehene has sent more shivers at the bones of the chiefs, especially those who have their cases pending at the Manhyia Palace.
The Asafohene, who ruled for eight years, was destooled for gross insubordination towards the Manhyia Palace, particularly flouting the great oath of the Golden Stool, ‘ntamkese’, one of the pillars of the kingdom, disrespect to Manhyia and his kingmakers and illegal sales of lands.
His destoolment was a surprised to most of the chiefs who thought considering his status at Manhyia, he would be forgiven by the Asantehene, but were quick to remember that the occupant of the Golden Stool delegated some of his powers to Akyamfour to act on his behalf at Asafo, so has the sole prerogative to destool him.
The chief of Offinso-Ahenkro, who also ruled for twenty years, was among other things was destooled for taking lands disputes cases to court, instead of Manhyia Palace, a situation Manhyia treats as ‘disrespectful”, which undermines the power of Manhyia.
The Asantehene delivering final judgments during both cases at the Palace said he will not show mercy to any chief found guilty of illegal sales of lands and settling chieftaincy disputes at the law court, major issues that confronted him when he was enthroned as the 16th occupant of the Golden Stool.
The decision, according to interviews conducted by Otec News’ reporter, Francis Appiah, in Kumasi, most people describing the Asantehene again as “King Solomon” said most chiefs in Asanteman are hiding behind the Asantehene to ‘bully’ them; illegal sales of lands, illegal installing and destooling of sub-chiefs, and destooling the “disobedient” chiefs will bring sanity in the chieftaincy.
The Asantehene, since his assumption has able to withdraw and settled all chieftaincy cases at the law courts in his twenty year rule, and issued warning to all his subjects not to send cases regarding chieftaincy to court in his kingdom.
The Asantehene has vowed to protect the 400 year old customs and traditions of Asanteman that have guided and helped his kingdom to be one of the powerful and fearful in the world’s history, hence any chief, irrespective of his status, who goes contrary to the customs and traditions, will be destooled.
Source: /Francis Appiah
