Asante sub-chiefs descend on Dormaahene amid row with Otumfuo over Fiapre chieftaincy

Dormaahene had threatened to resist any attempt by Otumfuo to elevate the Fiapre chief in the Bono region, arguing that, according to Ghana’s constitution, Asantehene is recognized as a paramount chief and, therefore, cannot install another paramount chief on land that does not fall under his jurisdiction.

However, some sub-chiefs from the Ashanti Kingdom have expressed their disagreement with Dormaahene’s assertion.

Nana Akuoko Kwarteng, the Nkosuohene of the Essumeja Traditional Area in the Ashanti Region, speaking in an interview shared on Asantemanso TV on YouTube responded by stating that Dormaahene’s claims are baseless and misleading.

“If someone says that Otumfuo doesn’t have the power to elevate a paramount chief, then it means that particular person doesn’t know what he is saying, or even if he does, then he is pretending,” he said.

“If we are supposed to speak the truth, Ashanti dates back to the olden days, and per our culture and traditions show that Asantehene Otumfuo is different. Per government law, Otumfuo is also different from all other chiefs.”

Nana Akuoko Kwarteng further criticized Dormaahene’s position as the President of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs, suggesting that his use of that position to make such threats is short-sighted.

“His position as President of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs, which he is using to threaten, will one day be taken away from him, and yet Otumfuo will still remain the same because his position is hereditary and tied to royalty.

“His position is not a hereditary throne, so a time will come whereby the same hands that voted for him will vote against him. But for otumfuo’s throne, it is about being part of the royal family before you can sit on it.”

He also added, “So if Otumfuo elevates the Fiapre chief, the law allows him to be part of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs. If Dormaahene says because of that he won’t be chief in Dormaa anymore, we wish him goodbye then. The Dormaa seat does not belong to him alone, so if he doesn’t want the throne, someone else will take over.”

Nana Osei Kufour Kowia, the chief linguist of Asanteman Benkumhehe, also voiced his disapproval of Dormaahene’s comments,

“Who are you to say that Otumfuo doesn’t have the authority?… If you take God out, Otumfuo is the next person. For a very long time, the Aduana family has been with Otumfuo to serve, so who are you today to say that Otumfuo doesn’t have authority? Even the whites agree that Otumfuo is different from all the chiefs, and as Akans, if God is not there, Otumfuo is the next person.”

He further appealed to the chiefs of the Aduana family, who are based in the Ashanti region, to intervene and advise Dormaahene to cease his attacks.

“We plead with Nana Manhene and the other chiefs to join forces and advise Dormaahene that it is enough for him to continue his attacks. He should know that most of the Aduana family is in the Ashanti region. So, the chiefs of Aduana should talk to their brother,” he added.

Nana Kofi Gyakyi, a sub-chief at Essumeja, added that Dormaahene’s constant criticism is elevating Otumfuo’s status.

“Dormaahene should know that what he is doing with his consistent rants is rather uplifting Otumfuo, the more he does that, the more people try to find out about Otumfuo. He doesn’t know what he is doing; he is uplifting Otumfuo even more.”

Dormaahene has asserted that the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu, lacks the authority to install a paramount chief at Fiapre, a town in the Sunyani West Municipal in the Bono Region.

Addressing his community members, Nana Agyeman Badu II noted that the Asantehene is recognized as a paramount chief by Ghana’s constitution and that a paramount chief cannot install another paramount chief on land that does not fall under his kingship.

According to the Dormaahene, the Fiaprehene owes allegiance to the paramount chief of Odumase, who exercises control over Fiapre.