Asantehemaa should not menstruate - Nana Ama Konadu’s selection explained

It is the tradition, everyone who ascends to the throne of the Asantehemaa must not be someone who is menstruating because the stool she occupies forbids menstruation.

This explains why every Asantehemaa is an elderly person, Nana Bogya Bia Yiadom who is Otumfuo’s Kyinehene elucidated. He was speaking to Akoma FM’s Nana Akohene Mensah at the Manhyia Palace on Tuesday following the announcement of the new Asantehemaa.

The Asanteman Council on Monday named Nana Ama Konadu as the next Asantehemaa to succeed the mother of the Asantehene, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II, who passed away in November 2016 at the age of 111. The over 83-year-old Nana Ama Konadu who is the sister of the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II is the first daughter of the late queen mother.

Immediately her name was announced, many who did know the tradition of the Asante kingdom questioned why an octogenarian would be preferred over young and active women as the Asantehemaa. But Nana Bogya Bia Yiadom explained that she was chosen because the Asantehemaa should always be an elderly person and not a young person still menstruating.

He added there are other qualified persons who are older than Nana Ama Konadu, but were bypassed on health grounds, a condition that would not enable them to perform their legitimate duties as an Asantehemaa.

Throwing more light on why the stool decides on someone who does not menstruate to be the Asantehemaa, the Otumfuo’s Kyinehene explained to Onua FM’s Yen Nsempa host, Bright Asempa that as part of tradition, the Asantehemaa must perform some rituals which someone menstruating is not permitted to perform.

He pointed out that if the Asantehemaa is not menstruating, she has the right to enter the rooms of the gods to perform certain rites at any given time.