Suspected robbers have raided the Sokoban Krofrom Palace in the Ashanti Region, making away with the revered “black stool” and other valuable items.

According to members of the Adumasa family, the attack occurred while the newly installed chief and other family members were at the Manhyia Palace to swear the oath of allegiance. Before their return, the palace had been ransacked, with the sacred black stool missing.

In Akan culture, the black stool is a sacred symbol of authority, leadership, and spirituality. It embodies the history, traditions, and values of a royal family, making its theft a significant cultural violation.

“We were here when six macho men surrounded the palace with machetes and guns. They vandalized the metal gate and bolted with the black stool and other items,” a family member recounted.

The invaders reportedly vandalized the palace doors and attacked elderly family members who attempted to resist them.

“Our old men who tried to confront them were beaten mercilessly, and we, the women, were wailing as they took away our valuables,” another witness lamented.

The robbery has left the family in shock and fear, prompting urgent calls for security intervention. The police have since visited the palace and launched an investigation into the incident.

The theft of such a significant cultural artifact raises concerns about security around traditional symbols of power and the broader implications for the chieftaincy institution in the Ashanti Region.