By Daniel Bampoe
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has destooled the Paramount Chief of Kenyase No. 2, Nana Kwabena Asare Ababio, after the Asanteman Traditional Council dismissed allegations he had levelled against the Queen Mother and instead upheld a series of counterclaims accusing him of violating long-established Asante customs and abusing his traditional authority.
The dramatic ruling, delivered before the Asanteman Traditional Council at the Manhyia Palace, brings to an abrupt end the chief’s reign after Otumfuo concluded that his conduct had undermined the customs and traditions governing the Asante Kingdom.
The case originated from a petition filed by the Paramount Chief against the Paramount Queen Mother of Kenyase No. 2, Nana Akua Tinkwamaa, accusing her of gross insubordination and misconduct.
The chief levelled ten separate charges against the Queen Mother, including allegations of indiscriminate sale of stool lands, making unauthorized appointments, destooling sub-chiefs without authority, employing land guards and engaging in activities he claimed undermined the traditional administration of the area.
However, when the Queen Mother appeared before the Asanteman Council, she rejected every allegation, insisting that the accusations were baseless and politically motivated.
She maintained that the land transaction cited by the chief had been undertaken at his own request and with his knowledge.
The Queen Mother further accused the Paramount Chief, his wife and some members of the Traditional Council of allegedly forging documents and engaging in illegal land sales without following established customary procedures.
She also dismissed claims that she had unlawfully destooled sub-chiefs, explaining that the chiefs in question were still occupying their respective stools.
In another significant allegation, Nana Akua Tinkwamaa accused the chief of breaching Asante custom by creating stools without traditional approval and allocating them to members of his own family, contrary to customary practice.
She further informed the Council that she had been denied her rightful financial benefits and had allegedly been subjected to threats that made it unsafe for her to continue residing within the traditional area.
After hearing both parties, the Asanteman Traditional Council, presided over by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, found no merit in the allegations brought against the Queen Mother.
Instead, the Council held that the counterclaims presented by the Queen Mother were substantial and supported by the evidence placed before it.
Delivering his ruling, Otumfuo criticised the chief for engaging in conduct that violated the customs and traditions of Asanteman, particularly the alleged creation of unauthorized stools and actions considered inconsistent with accepted traditional governance.
The Asantehene declared that breaches of Asante custom could not be tolerated regardless of a chief’s status or position.
“Violating Asante traditions cannot be spared. Your reign ends now,” Otumfuo declared before ordering the chief’s immediate destoolment.
As part of the customary destoolment rites, the chief’s traditional sandals were removed and a ram was slaughtered to formally signify the end of his authority as Paramount Chief.
The Council further ruled that nearly all the kingmakers who were found to have violated their traditional oaths would also be destooled, with the exception of the Kontihene.
Otumfuo also reinstated some linguists to support the Paramount Queen Mother in the administration of the traditional area.
Following the ruling, Nana Akua Tinkwamaa was formally reinstated to her position as Paramount Queen Mother.
The remaining kingmakers were instructed to work closely with her to restore effective traditional administration and stability in Kenyase No. 2 pending further customary processes.
The decision adds to a series of high-profile judgments delivered by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II in recent years aimed at enforcing discipline, accountability and adherence to customary law among traditional rulers within the Asante Kingdom.
Under the Asante traditional judicial system, the Asantehene serves as the final customary authority in disputes involving chiefs, queen mothers and traditional councils.
His rulings are regarded as binding under customary law and are intended to preserve the integrity of the chieftaincy institution and maintain peace across Asanteman.
