Offinsomanhene Impasse: Otumfuo can’t take the blame -KTC

The Kumasi Traditional Council (KTC) has debunked allegations that the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, is to blame for the impasse in the installation of an Offinsomanhene.

The KTC stated at a press conference in Kumasi yesterday that, the Asantehene has in no way, negatively interfered in the Offinso Stool affairs and that, indications point to the Offinsohemaa, Nana Ama Serwaa Nyarko and her elders, as the impediments to the process of naming a qualified royal for the Offinso stool.

Nana Gyedu Kumanin IV, Amakye Barehene for Konti; Akyamfour Asafo Boakye Agyeman Bonsu, Asafohene (Akwamu); Nana Boakye-Ansah Debrah, Asokore Mampong (Nifa); Nana Adu Mensah Asare II, Amakomhene (Adonten); Nana Wiafe Apau Sanwoansan, Hemanhene (Benkum); Oheneba Boachie-Adjei Woahene II, Hiahene (Kyidom/Gyaase) and Nana Kyerematen Kusi Oboduom, Beberehene (Member) represented the KTC at the press conference.

“In the present case, the Asantehene has given the Offinsohemaa several chances to nominate a true royal to occupy the vacant Offinso Stool, but she has insisted on the apparently unyielding choice of Dr K.K. Sarpong, who is not a Royal”, the KTC stated, stressing that if anybody should be blamed, it must be the Offinsohemaa and not the Asantehene.

Nananom, therefore, cautioned that “this stubbornness and uncustomary behavior must stop, because Offinso deserves better than ruthless and senseless interference in the choice of its Omanhene”.

The KTC stated that throughout Asante history the Asantehene does not impose Chiefs and heads on paramountcies, but always ensures that the right thing is done in the selection and enstoolment of paramount Chiefs (Amanhene).

It was explained that to ensure justice is done and stools are not handed over to the highest bidder and to the most influential person in society, but to a true royal, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, since his enstoolment, has always directed queen mothers and stool elders to do the right thing, by following the laid down Asante customary practices, policies and procedures.

The Offinso Wiafe Akenten Stool became vacant following the demise of Nana Wiafe Akenten III, two years ago.

The declaration of Nananom’s position on the impasse in the Offinso Stool affairs follows concerns being raised by factions or groups, purported to come from Offinso, on issues that appear to breach the authority of the Asantehene.

The KTC reps explained that to be fair to the other 17 Ahyirem contestants, excluding Dr. K.K. Sarpong, the Asantehene directed the Offinso Stool elders to bring along all the 17 Ahyirem contestants to assemble them before him on Monday December 18, 2023 so that he (the Asantehene) would guide them through their (contestants’) family trees.

Unfortunately, Abusuapanin Akwasi Amoo and one Robert Ahenkan, an elder from Agogo, rushed to seek judicial redress about Asante custom, practices and norms, which move is  a complete affront to Asantehene’s authority and his systematic approach to resolving the issue.

They referred to an instance, in October 2023, when a group calling itself “Concerned Youth of Offinso”, claimed that Dr. K.K. Sarpong is a royal of Offinso, belonging to the Ahyirem family and, therefore, a legitimate claimant to the Offinso stool, which was in total contradiction to Otumfuo’s pronouncements on several occasions at Asanteman Council sittings.

They also referred to a section of the Ahyirem royals, led by one Nana Yaa Agyeman, at Offinso, who supported what the “Concerned Youth” had earlier proclaimed, culminating in the performance of  customary rites of propitiation for the insubordination of the youth and other protesters by the Offinso elders.

The chiefs also explained that at a point in time, the Asantehene, in his efforts to resolve the impasse, summoned the stool elders to the Manhyia Palace for the settlement of the Offinso issue, but some of the people, thinking that the meeting was meant to elect an Offinsohene through voting, went to the Offin River to invoke curses on all those who might vote against Dr. K.K. Sarpong.

It is believed he had influenced all the elders, which action by the youth group, was seen as a rebuttal to the elders’ customary rites of propitiation.

Referring to history to buttress Asantehene’s authority over Offinso, it is said that, the original people from Adansi who settled at Tutuase were part of the Asona clan (now referred to as Ahyirem people) and that Tutuase at that point was not a paramountcy until it joined the Asante nation, as part of the Asante organisational structure, under Opemsuo Osei Tutu I and the most celebrated high priest, Okomfo Anokye.

They also said after the Asante-Gyaman war of 1746, the Asantehene, Opoku Ware I, bequeathed a large tract of land, bordered on the south of Techiman to the Offinsohene, which has become known in Offinso history as Mmoaninko.

“It is contradictory for anyone to say that the Asantehene has no authority over Offinso lands”, the chiefs said.

It was made clear at the meeting that the youth of a community have no right to choose a leader (chief) for a community, neither has the Offinsohemaa the right to summon a traditional council meeting, as she sought to do last Monday.

“Convening traditional council meetings in the absence of an Omanhene, is bestowed only on an acting President of a Traditional Council and not the Queen mother”, they argued.

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