The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Responds to Dormaa Chief’s Claims Regarding Asantehene’s Powers in Chief Elevation
During an Asanteman Council meeting at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on Thursday, October 19, 2023, the Asantehene reiterated the historical account of how the Dormaa stool was raised to the status of a paramount chief by an Asantehene.
Reiterating his earlier statements regarding the historical context, particularly the establishment of Asanteman in connection to the Golden Stool and the allegiance expected from all chiefs within the Asanteman Kingdom, Otumfuo explained that he felt compelled to clarify this once more due to recent attempts to distort history.
Asantehene elevated Dormaa stool
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II disclosed that his uncle, who held the position of Asantehene at the time, was responsible for raising the Dormaa stool to the status of a paramount chief. Additionally, he noted that even prior to Agyeman Badu (the first) assuming the role of Dormaa chief, Agyeman Badu I, an uncle of the current Dormaa chief, had already pledged allegiance to the Asantehene.
What Dormaahene said
In a recent video interview with Ghanaweb, the current Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeayo Agyeman Badu II, who also serves as a High Court judge, raised concerns regarding how the Asantehene elevates chiefs to the status of paramountcy. He argued that there is “no King in Ghana” according to the 1992 constitution, as it does not make any reference to such a title.
Osagyefo Oseadeayo Agyeman Badu II contended that countries like Morocco and Saudi Arabia have Kings, and their constitutions acknowledge the existence of a Kingdom. However, in Ghana, the constitution does not mention any Kingdom, and thus, there is no King in the country. He maintained that since Ghana is a state, there is no Kingdom within its borders, and the term “King” should not be applied to the Asantehene.
During the Ghanaweb interview, Osagyefo Oseadeayo Agyeman Badu II suggested that the inclusion of the Asantehene’s name in the Chieftaincy Act was improper. He proposed an amendment to the Chieftaincy Act, advocating for the removal of the Asantehene’s name. He argued that failing to do so would open the door for other chiefs like the Ya Naa, Nayiri, and others to be mentioned in the Chieftaincy Act.
It’s worth noting that this isn’t the first time the Dormaahene has raised such arguments; he has done so at various public forums and media interviews. He has also contested the extent of the Asantehene’s influence over certain paramount chiefs whose jurisdictions extend beyond the Ashanti Region into areas like the Bono, Bono East, Ahafo, Western, and Oti regions.
Osagyefo Agyeman Badu II currently serves as the President of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs, which comprises paramount chiefs in the Bono Region. He questions why the Asantehene should have control over and the authority to elevate certain chiefs to paramount status, enabling them to join the Bono Regional House of Chiefs or the Bono East Regional House of Chiefs.
The Dormaahene argues that increasing the number of chiefs at the Regional House of Chiefs would result in higher government expenditures for these regional bodies. He expressed concerns that if other chiefs were to follow the Asantehene’s approach and elevate more chiefs to paramount status, it would further strain government finances.
What the Asantehene said at this week’s Asanteman Council meeting
During a different Asanteman Council meeting in 2022, in response to recent historical narratives by the Dormaahene, Oseadeayo Agyeman Badu II, and the issue of paying allegiance to Asanteman and the Golden Stool by chiefs in Bono East, Bono, and Ahafo Regions, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, reaffirmed that the regional boundaries for political administration set by the central government do not imply that chiefs in different regions are exempt from paying allegiance to Asanteman and the Golden Stool. He made it clear that Asanteman has no intentions of forcing or coercing any chief into paying allegiance.
He expressed his aim to provide support to those chiefs willing to work within the Asanteman framework and emphasized that this effort is not about subjugation but about mutual cooperation and development. The Asantehene underlined that chiefs who wish to continue paying allegiance to Asanteman and benefit from the associated progress in their areas should not be deterred by other chiefs who hold a different stance.
He cited the example of the then Dormaahene, Agyeman Badu, who paid allegiance to his uncle, the then Asantehene, Nana Kwame Kyeretwie, before assuming the chieftaincy of Dormaa while he was a teacher at the Government Boys School in Kumasi. It was only recently that the Dormaahene decided not to continue paying allegiance to the Golden Stool and Asanteman. Nevertheless, there is no intention to pressure the Dormaahene to change his stance.
The Asantehene stressed that this should not lead to attempts to rewrite historical narratives and, more importantly, it should not disrupt other chiefs in the Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo regions who wish to maintain their allegiance to the Golden Stool and Asanteman. To facilitate this, plans are in motion to elevate such chiefs to the status of paramount chiefs.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II concluded by stating his intention to avoid unnecessary debates on this matter and assured that towns in the Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo regions deserving elevation will receive the necessary recognition and status.
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