Essumeja royal family revokes candidature for vacant stool

The Aduana Royal family of Essumeja in the Bekwai Municipalityhas withdrawn the candidature of Mr. George Kwaku Kwarteng, a Kumasi based businessman, for the Gyebi Kankanfo Stool of Essumeja Asantemanso, which became vacant on the demise of Odeneho OduroNumapau II in 2003.

The decision was arrived at an emergency meeting convened by the Abusuapanin Kyei Baffuor and Aduana Obaapanin, Madam Adwoa Aboraa at Essumeja on Sunday.

On November 22, 2012, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, directed the Abusuapanin (head of Aduana Royal family) of Essumeja to nominate a royal for installation as chief.

Mr. George Kwaku Kwarteng was thus nominated by Madam Adwoa Aboraa, but a planned swearing-in ceremony to the elders at Essumeja on December 4, 2012, was aborted as a group of concerned youth of the community in May 2013 opposed his nomination, citing his Asona lineage of his mother Madam Yaa Serwaa and, therefore, not a true Aduana royal as disqualification.

At last Sunday family meeting, Messrs J. K. Aidoo and Sheikh Yeboah, both family members suggested that the stool be declared vacant for fresh nominations to be conducted towards the installation of a chief. Mr. Kwaku Boateng, however, recommended that the family should consider nominating an able spokesperson for approval as Essumejahene.

He mentioned by inference that, Mr. Kwabena Osei Bonsu, over the years, has been the spokesperson of Nana Adwoa Aboraa and the Aduana Royal family of Essumeja and championed the interest of the community and that of the royal family.

According to him, Osei Bonsu gave an unblemished account of the family tree of Madam Aboraa to convince the Asanteman Council that the late Odeneho Oduro Numapau hailed from Tikromand, therefore, he (Oduro Numapau) was not of the Essumeja royal blood, which meant that the installation of the Queen mother was absolutely improper.

Nana Osei Bonsu had narrated that on the death of Nana Frema, the late Oduro Numapau installed Obro Nyankropon as the Queen mother of Essumeja, hence the Ntamkesie (Otumfuo’s Great Oath) against the Queen mother to regain their rightful possession.

Following Osei Bonsu’s narration, the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, on November 22, 2012, directed the Abusuapanin (head of Aduana Royal family) of Essumeja to immediately nominate a royal in consultation with the Obaapanin for installation as chief.

The submissions of Osei Bonsu contributed to the establishment that Nana Nyankronpon is not a royal of the Essumeja royal which fact was collaborated by findings of the a five-member Committee of enquiry.

Before Otumfuo issued the directive, members of the Asanteman Council had, by consensus, called for the destoolment of the Queen mother of Essumeja variously for gross disrespect for the Golden Stool and the Asanteman Council.

The Gyebi Kankanfo Stool of Essumeja Asantemanso became vacant on the demise of Odeneho Oduro Numapua II in 2003, as a result of which Essumeja, which is the Benkum wing of Asanteman, has been without a substantive chief.