Considered the leading private owned newspaper in Ghana, the Chronicle also carries what seems to be the story of the moment, the story of the burial of the late Asantehene Otumfuo Opoku Ware II and the choice of his successor.
"The Great King Finally goes to rest ... Behold, the New Asantehene ... Fresh Dramatic claimant surfaces" all herald the in-depth story filed on the front page of the Chronicle. The report says even as the tears and over running display of uncanvassed respect accorded the departed continued, the equally weighty matter of succession and it's accompanying horse - trading raged.
The Chronicle states "the most dramatic entrant to the known front-liners is a Johnny -just -come- lately from the United States called Dr. Kwame Takyi 51, also known as Kwame Kusi."
Dr. Takyi an alumnus of the University of Science and Technology in Kumasi and the University of Pennsylvania, USA, majored in Engineering and Transportation Planning. He is presently the Director of Facilities and Equipment Planning at the New York City Transit Authority.
"The fresh new claimant" is believed to trace his lineage to the 'Asamni Kani' Royal Family, a direct descendant of Awuakyewa, whose children became the first and second Kings of the Asante dynasty. According to Asante folklore Awuakyewa's mother, Ankyewa Nyame descended from heaven. The promoters of Dr. Takyi's stake has it that the Great Osei Tutu, decreed that the son of his sister, Opoku Ware, should succeed him contrary to the wishes of Nana Serwa Sie, the head of the Obiri Yeboah family. This breached the succession line.
After the conjuring of the Golden Stool Osei Tutu is said to have ruled that only seven Kings should occupy the Golden Stool after which succession should revert to the Asaman Kani Royal line, which Dr. Takyi is said to belong to. The rule is called Asaman Kwadani according to Royal Folklore and that time is now.
However, The Chronicle claims to have it on unimpeachable Authority that by Wednesday night the name on her lips was that of her own son, Nana Kwaku Dua. The report concludes "should she choose him it will be a departure from the norm and there has been only one instance in over hundred years of Royal Ashanti History that this has happened."
