Asantehene Calls for Calm amid Berekum Chieftaincy Dispute
The King of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has called for calm in Berekum in the Bono Region among parties disputing over processes to enstool a successor to the late Daasebre Amankona Diawuo II.
The dispute emerged after the Queen nominated a candidate for the stool and convened a meeting to present him to elders and royals of the Traditional Area.
The parties appeared before His Majesty during the Asanteman Council meeting on Monday, August 19, 2024, where they were allowed to make their cases.
They included the Queen, Nana Akosua Amenyaahene III, Korasohene Nana Boakye Amankwaah III and the people of Mpatapo.
Statements
Korasohene accused the Queen of laying aside customary practices to elect a candidate for the vacant stool. He noted that the Asokore and the Koraso Abusuapanin are bestowed the responsibility of electing and enstooling a chief.
The Queen argued that she sidelined them because Koraso Abusuapanin had withdrawn from her since her enstoolment and had failed to participate in all activities.
For the people of Mpatapo, they claimed that they were among the royals entitled to the Berekum stool but had been sidelined by the Queen in nominating a candidate.
This was strongly disputed by Nana Akosua Amenyaahene III, who noted that the stool was some time ago given to the people of Mpatapo as part of a treaty for a loan. The debt was eventually settled with all accompanying conditions. She therefore affirmed that they had no right any longer to the stool.
Her recount was protested by the spokesperson of Mpatapo, Gyamena Gyae who invoked the Great Oath to support his claim. The Queen also protested per tradition, advancing the case for an in-depth investigation by the Council.
After hearing all the parties, His Majesty indicated that the fact that the Queen admitted the nominee of Koraso was a confirmation of their royal status and therefore made their case void at that level.
As it stands, the case is now between the Queen and the people of Mpatapo with an investigation set to commence into the claims.
Calm
Otumfuo in his submission called for calm and restraint on the part of the parties indicating that the root cause of the issue would be unearthed for the truth.
“Be calm and exercise patience until the truth gets unravelled. I don’t want to hear of disturbances. When the dispute is settled, we will go by tradition to enstool a chief and there will be lasting peace.”
In the meantime, His Majesty gave charge of the Traditional Area to the Elders until the dispute was resolved and a chief was enstooled.
