The King of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has ordered the immediate withdrawal of court cases involving Damprane, Buokrom, and Denteso over a boundary dispute.
The directive came during a Kumasi Traditional Council meeting held on 24 February 2025, where the three parties presented their grievances.
The boundary disagreement centres on territorial claims among the three communities. During the meeting, Denteso accused Damprane and Buokrom of encroaching on its land—an allegation both denied. It was revealed that despite the case being before the Council, all three factions had pursued legal action in court against one another.
Delivering his ruling, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II instructed that each party withdraw their court cases without delay. Stressing the importance of respecting traditional authority, he ordered:
“Anyone with a court case must direct his lawyer to take steps to withdraw it immediately before I attend to it.”
His Majesty criticised the involved parties for bypassing tradition in favour of litigation, insisting that chieftaincy and traditional structures must be respected in settling such matters.
Otumfuo shared historical context to clarify the positions of the communities involved. He revealed that Damprane’s current settlement holds significant historical importance, stating:
“There is a reason I sent Damprane to their present location. It forms part of the reason I don’t shake his hand; I pat him on the back instead. It was due to Damprane that my grandson was saved from dying. He sacrificed himself to be buried alive.”
Given this historical contribution, Otumfuo chastised Denteso for challenging Damprane’s claim:
“How dare Denteso engage in litigation with him. Cease that immediately and learn about the tradition. I took him there way before Denteso.”
Additionally, Otumfuo disclosed that Buokrom had been directed to allocate part of its lands to Denteso, clarifying the expected territorial boundaries and relationships among the three communities.
Otumfuo’s ruling highlights the Asante Kingdom’s reliance on traditional governance structures in addressing disputes. By calling for the withdrawal of the court cases, the King reaffirmed his stance that tradition and history must take precedence over modern legal battles, especially concerning matters of land and heritage.
Source: opemsuo.com / Hajara Fuseini
