Asantehene Schools Traditional Leaders on Stool Appointments
The King of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has schooled paramount chiefs, queens and their elders about the traditionally accepted process for the appointment of a candidate to a stool.
Addressing the Asanteman Council on January 13, 2025, during their first meeting of the year, he said sidelining the laid down processes is the reason there are numerous chieftaincy disputes in recent times.
According to him, the appointment of male rulers is the sole prerogative of Queens.
“These days there is a trend where interested parties go and plead for the stool and we have some stool elders resisting the appointment of queens claiming there was no consultation. That is untraditional. It is against our custom.”
His Majesty stated that Queens have the right to appoint any person to a stool without consultation. However, he said she may choose to consult the Abusuapanin (family head) about her choice.
“She may call the Abusuapanin indoors and inform him about her choice. If the Abusuapanin has any reservations about the choice of the queen, he puts it forward. This doesn’t give the Abuasuapanin the mandate to reject the good choice of the Queen. She can take inputs but it is not binding. The appointment takes place indoors and no one comes in.”
When this is done, the Queen conveys to the Gyaasehene who also communicates to the rest of the stool elders for their verdict on the choice.
“If they have any reservations about the appointee due to his character or any other thing for which they deem him unfit for the stool, they will have to meet with the Queen and convince her. The queen can reject when she deems their objections as flimsy.”
Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini
