I Hold the Sole Authority to Destool Chiefs- Otumfuo

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has stated that it is amiss for anyone other than himself to initiate proceedings to destool a chief who has sworn allegiance to him.

This was the judgement of His Majesty in the case of Nana Osei Dankwa Brafo II, Donyinahene and one Appiah Kwarteng.

On February 10, 2025, the Kumasi Traditional Council heard how Appiah invoked the Great Oath against the chief to prevent him from enstooling anyone other than his niece on the vacant female stool.

He invoked another oath challenging the royalty of the chief and subsequently performed the ram slaughtering rite to destool the chief at his own discretion.

After hearing the case, Otumfuo chastised him for attempting to violate tradition and customs.

“Who gave you the authority to destool?” His Majesty inquired, adding that the discretionary power rests solely with him.

“It is not tradition to slaughter a ram to destool him. I am the only one with the authority to take that action… I still recognize him as the occupant of the Donyina Stool. How will you feel if I destool him now and install you in his stead and a different person comes to challenge your authority by slaughtering a ram to destool you?”

Otumfuo therefore directed him to perform all the “Dibim” rites and then re-present his case for investigations.

“I have cancelled the case you have brought now. Go and perform the needed rites and then come back to make your case so we look into it.”

In the meantime, the Asantehene charged Nana Osei Dankwa II to proceed with the enstoolment of a Queen.

He noted, “If investigations later prove that the chief is not a royal after you re-make your case, I will simply destool the Chief and Queen. However, I will not allow anyone to use intimidation to frustrate tradition and customs. Before you re-make your case, I would be done with my investigations into the family tree.”

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini