The Asantehene,Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, on Monday warned political appointees against leveraging state power to influence chieftaincy disputes, arguing that authority in public office is inherently temporary.

Addressing a meeting of the Asanteman Council on April 20, he criticized what he described as rising political interference in longstanding traditional conflicts, pointing to tensions in communities including Sampa, Nkyeraa, Amantim and parts of Asante Akyem.
“Your government is in power, so you think you can do whatever you please,” he said. “Know that power is transient.”

The Asantehene expressed concern that judicial rulings in several of the disputes were being disregarded. In Amantim, he noted, a court decision recognizing a legitimate chief has yet to be enforced, while rival claimants continue to assert authority. He cited similar dynamics in Nkyeraa, recently elevated to a divisional council within the traditional governance structure.

In Sampa, he said, an individual he described as a foreign national continues to present himself as a chief despite court decisions to the contrary, underscoring what he framed as a broader erosion of respect for legal and customary authority.

He also directed criticism at some paramount chiefs within the Ashanti hierarchy, accusing them of inaction. “You are all waiting for Otumfuo to act,” he said, adding that reluctance to intervene risked undermining the integrity of the traditional system.

Invoking historical figures associated with Ashanti resistance, including Yaa Asantewaa and Tweneboa Koduah, he called on traditional leaders to defend established authority and uphold the rule of law.

He added that he would oppose any attempts to prevent traditional leaders in the Bono and Bono East regions from paying homage to him, signaling a willingness to assert his office in the face of mounting disputes.

Source:TheDotNews