The authority of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, frequently sparks public debate. Some argue that he is not a king since Ghana’s constitution does not use the terms “king” or “kingdom,” but instead refers to “paramount chiefs” and “traditional stools.”
Advocates of Asanteman and various historians contend that all paramount chiefs in Ghana are essentially kings, and the Asantehene is considered the “king of kings.” They believe that Ghana’s colonial rulers introduced the terms “paramount chiefs” and “stools” to undermine the authority of traditional leaders, ensuring they were not seen as equals to the British monarchy.
Regardless of this debate, the structure of the Asanteman (the Ashanti Kingdom) clearly illustrates the significant power of the Asantehene. An organogram displayed during the 15th-anniversary celebration of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II showed the Asantehene and the Asantehemaa at the top, with paramount chiefs on either side.
These paramount chiefs represent six of the 16 regions in modern-day Ghana, including the entire Ashanti Region, the entire Ahafo Region, parts of the Bono Region, parts of the Bono East Region, parts of the Eastern Region, and parts of the Oti Region.
On the right side of the Asantehene are 36 paramount chiefs, including Juabenhene, Bekwaihene, Kokofuhene, Woraworahene, Oyoko-Kumasi, Mamaponghene, Adansinene, Offinsohene, Ejisuhene, Asokorehene, Beposohene, Adankragyahene, Agonahene, Nkoranzahene, Asuboahene, Asamanhene, Adonten-Kumasi, and Nifa-Kumasi.
The remaining paramount chiefs include: Bawuro/Abuontem-Kumasi, Yamfohene, Mimhene, Duayawnkwantahene, Hwidiemhene, Awua Domasehene, Drobo, Berekumhene, Bandahene, Mohene, Kontirehene-Kumasi, Denyasehene, Akwamu-Kumasi, Manso Nkwantahene, Asankarehene, Bompatahene, Wenchihene, and Bechemhene.
Also, to the left side of the Asantehene and the queen mother are 39 paramount chiefs including Nsutahene, Kuntanasehene, Dikomanhene, Kyidom-Kumasi, Japekromhene, Nsawkawhene, Seikwahene, Goasohene, Kukuomhene, Sampahene, Mpasaaso No.1 Hene, Ankobia-Kumasi Hene, Manwere-Kumasi, Gyaase-Kumasi, Acherensuahene & Bassahene, Tepahene & Offumankene, Kenyase No.1 Hene, Kenyase No 2 Hene, & Yerhene, Akrodiehene & Abeasehene, Amantinhene & Sumahene and Ofoasehene & Wiasehene.
The rest of the chiefs on the Asantehene’s left side are Marbanhene, Akrotosohene, Mamfohene, Nkomihene, Sabronumhene Baduhene, Juansahene Agyaadenhene, Tuabodomhene, Tanosohene Dwanhene, Buoyemhene Owenemheng, Tano-Boasehene, Gyadamhene Pranghene, Domeabrahene, Sankorehene, Nkosuo-Kumasi, Obogohene, Essumagyahene, Kumawuhene, Kwamaghene, Amorfulhene, and Benkum-Kumasi Hene.
This number has possibly increased because the Asantehene has the power to elevate any of the traditional areas under his jurisdiction to the status of a paramountcy.
Moreover, this list excludes the numerous divisional and sub-divisional chiefs who are all under the authority of the Asantehene.
See lists of paramount chiefs under Asanteman below:
