The Occupant of the Golden Stool, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has defended the culture, customs and traditions of Asanteman against any form of legislative interference.
His Majesty is determined to push back at any attempt that contravenes his customary practices.
Otumfuo made this known on December 19, 2025, during the last sitting of the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs while reacting to proposals from the National House of Chiefs to amend the Chieftaincy Act, 2008 (Act 759) to establish a Chamber of Queenmothers and include them in House of Chiefs sittings.
Authority of Queens
In a passionate yet firm speech, Otumfuo highlighted the enormous authority wielded by female traditional rulers within his realm as well as the great honour and respect accorded to them by their chiefs.
“The authority given to our Queens by our forebearers still exists. We give them the needed respect and honour. They are empowered to choose chiefs. We were all chosen by the Queens.”
Per Asante traditions, queens sit by their traditional sons, offering them advice on how to rule their jurisdictions. Otumfuo enlightened.
“Our culture demands that after choosing you for the position, she sits beside you in public and advises you in public. At Asanteman Council meetings, they join us.”
This does not include joining in the deliberations of the Council, His Majesty noted as he used his relations with Asantehemaa as an analogy.
“When we meet at home, Asantehemaa sits beside me. She has never spoken to Asanteman, but she wields power over all paramount chiefs. She leaves all the speech to me, but behind the scenes, she is offering a strong backing.”
This is replicated across the realms of Asante, Otumfuo stated.
Recognition of Differing Customs
His Majesty intimated that customs differ across ethnic groups and tribes, and thereby a blanket law such as has been proposed cannot be imposed on all.
The diversity, His Majesty stated, is recognised under the Chieftaincy Act, 2008 (Act 759) and the 1992 Constitution.
“Ghanaians must know that cultures differ across, as such, contravening laws cannot be enacted at the national level to be imposed on everyone. Our culture and tradition are different from others. They {National House of Chiefs} must be careful not to bother us with the statutory enactment…Some people practise a patrilineal culture, while ours is matrilineal. The National House of Chiefs, which has a diverse background of people, must be careful not to mix them up.”
“The Constitution states that the ‘institution of chieftaincy together with its traditional councils as established by customary law and usage is hereby guaranteed in the constitution.’ What is customary usage?”
Otumfuo thereby called for the appreciation of the existing diverse customs.
Resistance
His Majesty noted that he will resist every effort to change the Asante custom.
“You can’t change my culture. I am Asantehene. With power, I founded Asante. I won’t let anyone change it. We must all understand.”
The Asantehene affirmed that the proposed law, if passed, cannot be binding on Asanteman.
“That law cannot be binding on us. It can be implemented elsewhere, not here. I will not implement it here. We will do our culture our way. Anyone who wants his culture influenced can allow it, but for my Asanteman, which is empowered by the Golden Stool, my culture is different and has nothing to do with the National House of Chiefs.”
House of Chiefs with No Place in Our Customs
That said, Otumfuo noted that the creation of the Houses of Chiefs is not part of the customary fabric of Asante.
The King described it as part of modernisation and westernisation, which he allowed only because it is stipulated by law under the 1992 Constitution.
“I allowed you to join the National House of Chiefs just because of its statutory provisions backed by law. I come here, {Regional House}, only for the sake of the law. We deliberate on legislation, land issues and other parts of the statutory provisions.”
Enstoolment
Otumfuo also stressed that the Statutory Provisions for the Houses of Chiefs do not include the power to enstool a chief.
“This House doesn’t enstool or create a sub chief or paramount chief. No Regional House has the power to create a paramount chief or sub-chief. If anyone wants to misuse power and use these Houses to do such things, it must be denounced.”
This was said in relation to intelligence that an individual had been presented for registration as chief of Nkyeraa, bypassing established procedures.
“I have noticed that someone’s name has been clandestinely submitted for registration as chief of Nkyeraa at the National House of Chiefs. The Research Committee must delist that person immediately. Some of your people are doing mischief over there; be vigilant and do your work as demanded by law.”
Story by Hajara Fuseini
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Source:
opemsuo.com