Otumfuo Affirms Late Oheneyere Mfodwoa Birago’s Family as Sole Eligible Line to Duayaw Nkwanta Stool

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has affirmed that the Duayaw Nkwanta stool is an aheneyere kuro, declaring that the family of the late Oheneyere Mfodwoa Birago is the sole eligible group to ascend both the male and female stools.

The verdict was delivered on May 4, 2026, at the Manhyia Palace after the Asanteman Council received a committee report on the protracted chieftaincy dispute.

Committee Findings
The committee’s investigation followed petitions from four individuals who challenged the legitimacy of the late Queen and her family, while each laid claim to the stool.

The contenders were the Queenmother of the Awompii family, Abusuapanin Kwame Asante of the Samantwease family, and Ofori Adu and Agyenim Boateng of the Tetretem family.

Historical Background
In his ruling, Otumfuo traced Asante’s acquisition of the town to a military campaign led by Opemsuo Osei Tutu I, founder of the Asante Kingdom, during a war against Dormaa.

“The inhabitants of the town had hidden our enemies, so we laid siege to it,” the Asantehene recounted.

The siege caused the original inhabitants to flee, leaving the town desolate. Otumfuo Osei Tutu I subsequently allotted the town to his wife and son.

Clarification on Royal Lineage
Otumfuo clarified that the Asantehene did not marry a woman from the original inhabitants of Duayaw Nkwanta, contrary to claims by two of the contenders.

“My wife to whom I allotted the town was not taken from the initial inhabitants. I took her from here and sent her to the town,” His Majesty stated.

“She was an Asante.”

Ban on Tetretem Family
The Asantehene noted that members of the Tetretem family later returned and were, at some point, permitted to occupy the male stool.

However, they were later banned entirely from the stool after some of them desecrated a royal burial by exhuming treasures buried with a chief.

Otumfuo further chronicled the lineage of both the Tetretem and Samantwease families, establishing that neither belongs to the royal line of the Duayaw Nkwanta stool.

Rebuke and Sanctions
The Asantehene condemned the contenders for invoking the Great Oath of Asanteman against the late Queen.

“You had no right to invoke the Great Oath against the Queen, who is now deceased. You could have sent a plea for the ban to be lifted,” Otumfuo said.

For their conduct, each contender was fined two rams.

Story by Hajara Fuseini

Click to read more: https://opemsuo.com/author/hajara-fuseini/