The prolonged chieftaincy dispute in the Offinso Traditional Area seems to have reached its resolution, as the elders of Offinso have officially introduced a new paramount chief for the area to the Asanteman Council and Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
As reported by graphic.com.gh, the kingmakers of the Offinso stool presented Nana Amoako Poku, a 68-year-old member of the Offinso Ahyirem Royal Family, as the nominee for Offinsohene during the Asanteman Council meeting in Kumasi on Monday, December 18, 2023.
Notably, the queen mother of Offinso (Offinsohemaa), who had been a central figure in the chieftaincy controversy, was reportedly absent from the meeting. In her absence, Kwakwaboa Abusuapanyin, Opanyin Yaw Nkrumah Adusah, representing the royal family, provided information about the vacant stool and the family’s process in selecting a royal to fill the vacancy.
Abusuapanyin informed the Asantehene and the Asanteman Council that the family was nominating Nana Amoako Poku as the Offinsohene, introducing him formally during the meeting. This move came after the queen mother failed three times to fulfill her role in nominating a candidate for the vacant stool.
Background:
On April 28, 2022, just before his departure to the United States, Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II rejected a request from Offinsohemaa Nana Ama Serwaa Nyarko to accept Dr. K. K. Sarpong as her choice for the Offinso stool. The Asantehene advised her to adhere to traditional and customary protocols.
The kingmakers of the Offinso Traditional Area had selected the former GNPC boss, Dr. K. K. Sarpong, as the successor to the late Paramount Chief of Offinso, Nana Wiafe Akenten II.
In response, some Offinso youth criticized Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, accusing him of being an autocratic leader who overstepped his traditional powers in the ongoing chieftaincy dispute.
The youth expressed dissatisfaction with Manhyia Palace’s decision for the Offinso kingmakers to choose a new candidate for the vacant paramount chief position.
During a press conference, concerned Offinso Youth members stated, “Offinso has taken note that the Asantehene has taken advantage of the respect our queen mother has for him and is therefore overexercising his powers, rendering our queen mother powerless.”
“We can say emphatically that Otumfuo has no power to destool or enstool any paramount chief and he should allow Offinso Hemaa to do her work.”