I Pray Otumfuo Lives Long to Administer Justice to the Poor- Offinsohene
The sole desire of the Paramount Chief of the Offinso Traditional Area, Nana Dwamena Akenten II, is for Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to live to a ripe old age to keep administering justice to the less fortunate and marginalized.
Nana Dwamena Akenten II, a product of the Asantehene’s justice and a testament to his honesty, said the prayer when His Majesty availed himself for well-wishes and homage from Asanteman and Ghanaians.
While paying his respects with some gifts in honour of the 25th Enstoolment Anniversary and 74th birthday celebration of Otumfuo on May 8, 2024 at the Manhyia Palace, the traditional leader made the heartfelt wish.
“May God grant you long life for truth to abide in order that underprivileged and vulnerable heirs like myself would have access.”
Offinso Stool Controversy
A controversy over the Offinso stool emerged after attempts by some persons led by the destooled Queen mother, Nana Ama Serwaa Nyarko, to “sell” it to Dr Desmond Kofi Koduah Sarpong, in influential personality and former Board Chairman of Asante Kotoko Sporting Club.
According to Hemanhene Nana Wiafe Apau Sanwoansan, who represented the Bekum Division at a presser by the Kumasi Traditional Area in December, some royals approached Otumfuo about the efforts by the Queen Mother to compromise on tradition and give away the stool to KK Sarpong.
The royals urged the King to intervene to forestall the unforeseen situation, prompting the establishment of a committee to probe the allegation.
It was found by Otumfuo and the Committee that the said KK Sarpong- who was presented by the Queen mother to occupy the stool- was not related to the Ahyirem Royal Family as he claimed after analysis of his family tree.
It was found that the woman he claimed to originate from never had a child and was thus disqualified, breeding tensions among the Queen mother and some youth of Offinso.
Asantehene thus directed the royals to select a candidate to be sworn in.
On December 18, the royals, led by Kwakwaboa Abusuapanin Opanin Yaw Nkrumah Adusah, presented Nana Amoako Opoku to Otumfuo at the Manhyia Palace in accordance with Asante tradition.
He was enstooled and later took his oath of allegiance before Otumfuo on January 11, 2024. The Queen mother was destooled on the same day.
