You’re allowing money to mislead you, I’ll put things in their right place – Otumfuo chastises his chiefs

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has accused some of his chiefs of allowing money to mislead them in the performance of their duties.

In a fiery speech at the Asanteman Council meeting in Kumasi on Thursday, October 19, 2023, the Asantehene said he is going to stand firmly to prevent the chiefs from soiling the image of Asanteman.

The Asantehene said, “ If I don’t stand up firmly , you’re allowing money to mislead you. Things are getting out of hand , and I’ll put everything in their right place.”

Waning commitment
Otumfuo told the chiefs that their commitment to the cause of Asanteman is waning, which is a source of concern to him. “I want you to know that Asanteman is alive,” he told the packed Asanteman Council meeting, the first since he returned from his official visit to Scotland.

Odwira
Mentioning how former Kumawuhene, Tweneboa Kodua, sacrificed his life for the Golden Stool and was buried in broad daylight, Otumfuo asked ,”But what are we seeing today?.“ “That is why I have decided to celebrate Odwira and visit all my deities to perform the necessary rites to drive Asanteman’s progress,” he said.

He mentioned Asafo, Dominase, Esreso and Nkwantanan as some of the areas he will visit to performs rites.

Asanteman Council
The Asanteman Council is the highest traditional authority in Asante and has been in existence for over 300 years since the foundation of the Asante Kingdom (Asanteman) by Asantehene Opemsuo Osei Tutu and his trusted Priest Counsellor, Okomfo Anokye.

Its membership comprises the Asantehene as President, Asantehemaa and the heads of the traditional areas, (Amanhene) in the regions of the country who owe allegiance to the Golden Stool.

Offinso
Taking a look at the Offinso stool affairs which also came before the Asanteman Council yesterday, the Asantehene said, We surely would have to get someone to occupy the Offinso stool.”

But, he warned that he will not allow the Offinso stool to be sold to anyone.

He accused the queen mother of the area, Nana Ama Serwaa Nyarko of being the cause of the delay in getting a successor to the late Nana Wiafe Akenten III who died in 2021.

No secret
He told the kingmakers that there is nothing that they would discuss in Offinso or anywhere that he would not hear of it.

He said he had played it soft on the queen mother because she bears the same name with a former Asantehemaa. “Your name Ama Serwaa Nyarko is the same as my mother. She liked you very well when she was alive so I have also grown to like you, that is why I play it soft on you and I like you also.”

“But in this Offinso matter you have demonstrated the bad side of you,” Otumfuo told the queen mother .
He said during the last Akwasidae, he knew the people who went to greet nananom of Offinso, adding “ Don’t deceive yourselves.“