Otumfuo Sacks Chief

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has destooled the Asomfohene, Nana Osei Kwabena, for flouting the Great Oath- one of the pillars of the Asante Kingdom. This was after Nana Osei Kwabena had sold large tracts of land which had been the subject of a dispute between the Asomfo and Atwima Agogo stools.

To allow for smooth investigations into the matter to establish the rightful owner of the said stool land, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II had warned the two parties involved in the dispute not to sell any portion of the land until the matter had been resolved.Both factions were thus made to swear the Great Oath to the effect that they would comply with the Asantehene's directive.Reports however reached the Otumfuo that the Asomfohene was selling tracts of the said land, thereby flouting the Great Oath.

Otumfuo then summoned the Asomfohene, together with his stool elders, to appear before his court at a sitting of the Kumasi Traditional Council at the Manhyia Palace, to brief them on why he flouted the Otumfuo's order. The Asomfohene, Nana Osei Kwabena admitted that he had committed the offence and pleaded with the Otumfuo to temper justice with mercy.

But the Asantehene, who had earlier refused such a plea from the Kokofuhene, Barima Ofe Akwasi Okogyeasuo and the Tepahene, Nana Adusei Atwenewa Ampem, could not compromise his stand on the issue, especially after he had issued several warnings to Nananom to respect the authority of the Great Oath.The Otumfuo then asked the Asomfohene to vacate his stool, as his conduct constituted gross disrespect for the Golden Stool. His traditional sandals were consequently removed in accordance with Asante Tradition, signifying that he had been destooled.

Earlier, the majority of representatives of the various paramountcies at the Kumasi Traditional Council- the Asantehene's court- in their contributions on the issue, had intimated that the action of their colleague, the Asomfohene warranted immediate destoolment.