By: Nicholas Osei-Wusu
Did you know that, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II is just about making history in the hierarchy of Asanteman?
Correspondent Nicholas Osei-Wusu reports that upon his selection and enstoolment of the 15th Asantehemaa after the burial of the late Nana Konadu Yiadom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II will become the first occupant of the Golden Stool to serve with three different Asantehemaa in succession, two of whom were his direct blood relations.
He was enthroned in April 1999 by his biological mother, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem, who was the 13th Asantehemaa and served with Otumfuo Osei Tutu 1 for 17 years before joining the ancestoral world in November 2016.
In February 2017, Otumfuo Osei Tutu had the privilege to select and enstool Nana Konadu Yiadom III, his eldest blood sister, as the 14th Asantehemaa, succeeding their mother.
Nana Konadu Yiadom reigned for 8 years with Otumfuo Osei Tutu as the 16th occupant of the Golden Stools before giving up the ghost in early August, this year.
As the stool cannot be left vacant eternally, and with the sole prerogative of selecting the occupant, Otumfuo Osei Tutu will therefore have the rare opportunity of deciding the 15th Asantehemaa to succeed his late sister.
When asked about whether such a history indeed beckons, the Head of the Manhyia Royal Family, Barima Boakye Ansah, hesitated drawing deep into history before respondinh with certainty “hmmmmm, yes, it is true. It has never happened.”
When asked if it is also the case that, Otumfuo Osei Tutu is the first Asantehene to have reigned with his biological mother and sister as successive Asantehemaa, one of the elderly women members of the Royal Family, Nana Afia Sarpong remarked, “Nana Bonsu reigned with two similar Relations, once their mothers were siblings.”
She could, however, not say with emphasis that, the situation was exactly the same as has been the case of Otumfuo Osei Tutu.
Indeed, ‘S3 obi nyaa saa anka )b3y3 bi’ as his(Otumfuo Osei Tutu)’s appellation goes!!
Meanwhile, Day Two of the ‘Dote Yie’ or traditional burial rites for the late Asantehemaa, Nana Konadu Yiadom also saw the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu, who is the Chief mourner, arrive at Dwabrem, the main court of the Manhyia Palace, after midday on Tuesday September 16, 2025, riding in a palanquin adorned in a black and white cloth while chewing the cola.
The chewing of cola by Otumfuo Osei Tutu, known in the Asante parlance as ‘beseno’, is symbolically to communicate to everyone that, he is in deep sorrow or mourning a beloved one.
Before his arrival to sit in state, paramount chiefs, queens and key traditional leaders from the whole of Asanteman, were already seated with their subjects.
Asanteman is made up of about 70 paramountcies spread across the political Ashanti region, Ahafo, Bono, Bono East and Oti regions whose headships owe allegiance to the Golden Stool and loyalty to the Asantehene.
The day was specifically set aside for the state security services, state owned enterprises and members of the public, with delegations from the Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Police Service, Ghana Prisons Service, Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Immigration Service, the National Investigations Bureau and the National Disaster Management Organization, NADMO visiting the Manhyia Palace.
They took turns to pay homage to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu, who sat in state, to receive mourners and well wishers.
There were delegations from some state owned agencies including COCOBOD.
The day was characterized by performances by traditional cultural troup with some of the chiefs and queens as well as children exhibiting their dancing skills to the admiration of especially first time visitors to the Manhyia Palace.
So far, patrons of the burial rite, sympathizers and visitors have commended the organizers for the elaborate and well coordinated event that has catered for security, emergency healthcare, sanitation, water and other necessities for occasions such as this.
