Bechem-Tanoso Queen Illegitimately Occupying Stool- Asantehene

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, has ruled that Obaapanin Amponsah Boah II’s position as Queen of Bechem-Tanoso is void.

This renders her positionless and the stool vacant.

The Asantehene delivered this ruling on March 10, 2025, at the Kumasi Traditional Council where a committee report on a dispute over the position of the reigning queen was reviewed.

Dispute
The disputing factions in the case were the self-proclaimed Queen, Amponsah Boah II and the deceased family head, Opanyin Aboagye Pesewu- who initiated the case and was subsequently represented by his successor, Opanyin Adusa Yeboah at the Council meeting.

The late family head had argued that the Queen was a proxy to Obaapanin Adwoa Takyiwaa and, therefore, illegitimately continued to hold onto the position three years after her death.

According to him, she was selected as a proxy after the Queen became incapacitated following an accident in 2005.

The Queen argued otherwise, noting that she was enstooled in 1999 as a successor to Obaapanin Yaa Kra.

Committee Report
But the committee found that Obaapanin Adwoa Takyiwaa was a proxy to Obaapanin Kra who was legitimately enstooled Queen. Additionally, it found Obaapanin Boah’s statement was false as she was instituted as a proxy to Takyiwaa.

The focus of the committee was particularly on the fact that Nana Asare Baffour, Bechem-Tanoso Chief who passed away in 2017 never introduced Obaapanin Boah to the Asantehene to legitimize her position.

All divisions of the Council agreed with the findings.

Verdict
In his verdict, Otumfuo noted that the rulership of Takyiwaa was illegitimate as it violated tradition.

“Takyiwaa was not a queen, she was a proxy and that renders her leadership and that of the current one void. Her power ended when Kra died. Had Obaapanin Kra deposed herself, a ram would have been slaughtered for spiritual recognition. This is Asante culture and tradition.”

His Majesty chastised the elders of the Bechem-Tanoso for drawing away from Manhyia, an action he recognizes has left them ignorant of tradition.

Suspension of Queen Enstoolment
The King, however, restrained them from enstooling a queen for the area in the meantime.

“Leave that one to me. I am thinking about it,” he added.

Enstoolment of Chief
Meanwhile, Otumfuo gave charge for a suitable candidate for the vacant male stool to be elected immediately.

The candidate, he directed, must be selected by the female heads of the royal households.

“The elderly women in the royal household are to select their preferred candidate for Abusuapanin to perform the necessary rites.”

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini