Around 20 delegates affiliated with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Manhyia North constituency are reportedly feeling uneasy after accepting money from a parliamentary aspirant during the recent primaries but choosing not to vote for him.
This comes after the irate aspirant, Richard Osei Bamfo, demanded a reimbursement of his funds, threatening potential repercussions from the formidable river deity, ‘Antoa Nyamaa,’ for a breach of contract.
Reports indicate that the delegates received amounts ranging from GH¢1000 to GH¢2000 from the aspirant prior to the elections.
However, during a press conference, the contested delegates argued that Mr. Bamfo had generously provided the money for their transportation, expressing confusion over his insistence on a refund.
Nevertheless, Mr. Bamfo is said to have called on any delegate who fails to return the money to face the consequences of ‘Antoa Nyamaa.’
The Chief Priest of the Antoa Nyamaa ‘deity,’ tasked with reversing the curses placed on Nana Kwaku Duah, Chief of Kokoso, by Bernard Antwi Boasiko (Chairman Wontumi), the Ashanti regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has refused to perform the necessary rituals.
This comes after Chairman Wontumi denied the allegations made against him by Nana Kwaku Duah regarding disparaging comments about Asantehene Otumfuo Osei II.
Wontumi’s denial, presented to the Antoa shrine dispute resolution Chiefs, created an impression of resolution by the Kumasi Traditional Council (KTC), which Nana Kwaku Duah and the Chief Priest found unsatisfactory.
Otumfuo’s Brempong, Nana Kwaku Duah, maintained that Wontumi had made the disparaging statement before about 40 people in the vetting room.
The Antoa Nyamaa Chief Priest, expressing discomfort with the handling of the case by the Kumasi Traditional Council (KTC), refused to reverse the curse, citing a lack of full disclosure of the truth during the unsatisfactory resolution at Manhyia Palace on January 29, 2024.
The Chief Priest directed the delegation to go back and resolve the case again, urging the guilty party to confess for forgiveness.
Following the Chief Priest’s decision, some individuals in the delegation knelt to beg Nana Kwaku Duah to allow the Chief Priest to reverse the curses. However, he objected, insisting that the entire truth must be revealed to vindicate his initial stance on the matter.
The delegation included Bernard Antwi Boasiako, Nana Nkansah Boadu (Agric Nzemahene), Nana Kwaku Duah (Chief of Kokoso), and Baffour Kantankrakyi (Otumfuo’s linguist).
On May 29, 2023, Asantehene Nana Otumfuo Osei Tutu, during a sitting of the Asanteman Traditional Council, ordered the destoolment of the Chief of Antoa, Nana Owusu Agyeman I.
This decision came after a tribunal of the Council, chaired by the Asantehene, found the 96-year-old chief guilty of sidestepping the consent and authority of Otumfuo by delegating his position to his nephew. This action was deemed a clear violation of customary procedure, leading Otumfuo to issue a decree for his destoolment as Antoahene.
Approximately three weeks after the destoolment of Nana Owusu Agyeman I, Royal Palace Multimedia, the official media outlet of Manhyia Palace, has shared video evidence of the deposed Antoahene challenging Otumfuo’s authority during a meeting with his elders and advisors.
The video shows Nana Owusu Agyeman I seated with his elders at the Antoa Palace, capturing a moment of heated confrontation between the chief and his linguist regarding the decision to delegate his power to his nephew.
The chief linguist expressed concern about Nana Owusu Agyeman’s refusal to seek Otumfuo’s approval before proceeding with his intended action. “Respectfully, I am your linguist, and by custom, I will be called to answer if you falter. So, I need to prompt you,” the linguist stated.
The chief responded, asserting his right to delegate his power to someone. “I will be there to answer for myself. I have the right to delegate my power to someone. Don’t I have the right?” he retorted.
Another elder chimed in, emphasizing the importance of doing the right thing to avoid incurring the wrath of Otumfuo’s palace. However, Nana Owusu Agyeman I maintained his position, insisting on disregarding the consequences.
The linguist further pointed out that Nana Owusu Agyeman I was appointed by Otumfuo and, therefore, should not make such decisions without his blessing. “I plead to ask if you are fully aware that Asantehene gave you the opportunity to sit here as Antoahene?” he queried.
“I was there before Asantehene came. I was here before Asantehene came; I brought him,” the chief insisted.
Following Otumfuo’s ruling, official rites for the destoolment of Nana Kwame Owusu Agyeman were immediately set into motion in the town of Antoa.
Nana Owusu Agyeman had served as the chief of Antoa for over two decades prior to his destoolment.
The overlord of the Ashanti Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Nana Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, on Monday, May 29, 2023, issued a decree for the destoolment of the Chief of Antoa, Nana Owusu Agyeman I.
This came after a tribunal of the Asanteman Traditional Council, headed by Otumfuo, found the 96-year-old Nana Agyeman guilty of defying the authority of the King.
In an exclusive audio shared by Royal Palace Multimedia on YouTube, several elders of the Antoa Traditional Council testified to the tribunal about Nana Agyeman’s decision to swear in his nephew as a delegated chief of the town, despite opposition from his kinsmen.
According to the witnesses who testified at the tribunal, Nana Agyeman disregarded calls from members of the Antoa Traditional Council to seek approval from Otumfuo before proceeding with the installation of his nephew.
The destooled chief according to the witnesses, claimed that he had the authority to delegate his powers to his nephew without authorization from Otumfuo, stating, “Let them tell me what transpired and let no one dare lie to me. I sit here but I am very informed about everything that has happened at Antoa,” as ordered by Otumfuo.
One elder who testified first told the tribunal, “About 40 days ago, I was not well and was scheduled for a check-up at Gee (Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital) in about a week’s time, on a Tuesday. Upon my return, I learned that Nana Antoahene and his elders had met to deliberate on issues, and at the end of the deliberation, he announced that he was delegating his powers to his nephew. His linguist, Nana Amoako, cautioned him that even his family members were not aware of the intended action, let alone the appointing authority. This led to a serious argument.
“He informed me as well, and I told him I would think about it. After giving it some thought, I decided against it. So, I called some of the elders and asked them to accompany me. I went and informed Nana Agyeman that I am here because of the program he intended to hold the following day. I told him that the right to delegate his authority to his nephew, granting him powers to issue rulings and allocations, lies solely with the Asantehene, so let us consult him and plead that he gives you the go-ahead. In response, he said, ‘I am young, and I was not brought up well, but he was brought up well. He has lived for 96 years, and he is not young. What will happen if Otumfuo refuses my request?’
“I questioned him about the consequences if he proceeded and Otumfuo disagreed. He told me, ‘my lord (Otumfuo) will tell him why he will not agree.’ When he said that, I washed my hands off the issue and any matter related to it,” another elder informed the Council.
He added that Nana Agyeman went ahead with the installation despite strong opposition from other kinsmen.
“An elder asked him if it was not Otumfuo who swore him in, and he answered, ‘no, he came to meet me. I was the one who brought him, so I do as I wish,’” he stated.
Another elder from Antoa corroborated the testimonies, recalling how the chief proceeded with the installation of his nephew even after a queen mother had invoked a sacred oath (ntamkesie) against the event.
“A fight broke out, so I went outside to separate them. When I returned, I was informed that someone had invoked a sacred oath. I called on my chief to halt the proceedings, but he said he would go ahead and face any consequences,” he said.
“It happened exactly as it has been told. We all opposed it. Even his wife was against the idea; she advised against it, but he refused,” another elder testified.
After listening to the various testimonies, Otumfuo ordered the destoolment of Nana Agyeman as Antoahene.
“Antoahene, you claim you want to delegate your power because you are tired. Today, you will leave my stool for me… I will delegate emissaries and police officers to escort you. All the necessary rites will be performed for his removal,” Otumfuo decreed.
Nana Kwame Owusu Agyeman held the position of Antoahene for more than two decades.
Following Otumfuo’s ruling on Monday evening, official rites for the destoolment of Nana Kwame Owusu Agyeman were immediately set into motion in the town of Antoa.
The chief of Antoa,Nana Owusu Agyeman I, has been destooled by the ruler of the Ashanti Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Nana Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
According to multiple palace sources, the Asantehene ruled against the 96-year-old and ordered his destoolment as the chief of Antoa during a judicial hearing on Monday, May 29, 2023, at the Manhyia Palace.
Nana Kwame Owusu Agyeman, who had held the position of Antoahene for two decades, is reported to have violated customary procedures by appointing his nephew to take over his reign while he is still alive.
After being confronted by his kinsmen and elders who suggested that he should have sought the permission of the King before taking such action, he allegedly denigrated the Asantehene.
Following Otumfuo’s ruling on Monday evening, official rites for the destoolment of Nana Kwame Owusu Agyeman were immediately set into motion in the town of Antoa.
The chief is also alleged to have been charged for various improper acts including alleged multiple sale of lands.
