New Offinsohene Swears Oath Of Allegiance To Asantehene
The newly enstooled Paramount Chief of Offinso, Nana Dwamena Akenten has officially sworn an oath of allegiance to the King of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
He fulfilled traditions and customs to have his reign recognized at the Manhyia Palace on Thursday, January 11, 2024.
He was accompanied to the Palace by his linguists and other royals.
“I am a testament to your truthfulness and honesty. I vow to emulate you and rule in truth just as you do. If I go against this oath, I have violated the Great Oath,” he vowed as he held the Mponponsuo sword before Otumfuo.
Ahead of that, he received counsel from all Divisions and Paramount Chiefs present.
The Kontri and Akwamu Divisions headed by the Bantamahene, Baffour Owusu Amankwatia VI advised him to unite the whole town under his reign and lobby for development in the town.
“Don’t hold grudges against those who supported or did not support you. Fear and honour the Great Oath.”
In his address, Otumfuo charged him to serve his people in humility.
He further charged stool elders of Offinso to take him through the bolts and nuts of the stool.
Background
The controversy over the Offinso stool emerged after attempts by some persons led by the Queen mother to “sell” it to Dr Desmond Kofi Koduah Sarpong, 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 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 the 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.
