In a resolute declaration, Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has pledged that he will not permit the Offinso Stool to be bestowed upon an illegitimate candidate. Speaking at an assembly of the Asanteman Council convened at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on Thursday, the Asantehene expressed his unwavering commitment to safeguarding the rightful succession to the vacant stool.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II revealed that he possesses credible information indicating that certain elders in Offinso were allegedly engaged in a plot to install an unauthorized individual as the occupant of the vacant stool. He pointed out that the Offinso Queen Mother, in collaboration with these elders, was involved in these activities, which have consequently caused delays in the selection process.
The Asantehene, acknowledging that the Queen Mother shares a name similar to that of his late mother, Asantehemaa, noted that his mother had a fondness for her. As a result, he has refrained from discussing the situation openly. Nevertheless, he stressed that the handling of chieftaincy affairs in Offinso has raised concerns and that he will not tolerate any attempt to sell the stool.
The Asantehene affirmed that he is well-informed about individuals who received monetary contributions from a candidate during the last Akwasidae festival. He further emphasized his determination to thwart any endeavors by Offinso’s Queen Mother, Nana Ama Serwaa Nyarko, to bestow the vacant Offinso Stool upon an unqualified candidate in exchange for financial gain.
While recognizing the need for the installation of a new chief in Offinso, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II made it clear that the Queen Mother’s actions have hindered the process. However, he vowed to ensure that only a qualified candidate assumes the role of Offinsohene and that the selection process adheres to the principles of legitimacy and tradition.