By Nicholas Osei-Wusu
President John Mahama was among the large crowd of mourners and sympathizers who converged on the Amaniampong Silver Stool Palace at Asante Mampong to pay their last respects to the late Mamponhene, Dasebre Osei Bonsu II, on the final day of the three-day customary burial rite.
The vicinity of the Palace proved too small to accommodate the large crowd attending Dɔte Yie, said to be the first in nearly a hundred years. The last occupant of the Silver Stool to have passed away is believed to have died in the 1930s.
Since then, almost all successive chiefs had either been destooled or abdicated for one reason or another, until the enstoolment of Dasebre Osei Bonsu II, 29 years ago.
This is the reason for the high premium placed on the burial rite by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu Ababio, and the Mampong Bretuo Royal Family.
President Mahama was accompanied by several Ministers of State, including the Minister for Local Government, Rural Development, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, and was led by the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene.
Also in his entourage were the National Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, and the General Secretary, Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey.
Also paying homage to the late Omanhene on the third day were former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, as well as former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings and her son, Kimathi.
The Acting Chief Justice, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, led a delegation from the Judicial Service.
There were also paramount chiefs or their delegations from various parts of the country, as well as members of the clergy and other prominent individuals.
President Mahama made a cash donation of 250,000 Ghana Cedis, while the immediate past President, Nana Akufo-Addo, who is also an in-law of the Mampong Bretuo family, having married his first wife from that family, donated 200,000 Ghana Cedis.
The mortal remains of the late Dasebre Osei Bonsu II will be interred at the Mampong Royal Mausoleum at midnight.
The final funeral rite will be organized by the next Mamponhene, in accordance with Asante tradition and custom.
