Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has officially removed Nana Adutwumwaa Bonin II, the Queen Mother of Denyase in the Ashanti Region, from her position for breaching the revered Great Oath of the Ashanti Kingdom.
The decision came after a meeting of the Asanteman Council, where allegations were discussed regarding the Queen Mother’s inappropriate invocation of the sacred oath, a significant violation of Ashanti tradition. Despite her pleas for forgiveness during the hearing, the council remained firm in its stance. One chief voiced the collective sentiment, saying, “Nana, we cannot grant her forgiveness because the Great Oath is paramount, and violating its sanctity is unacceptable.” Other council members, including the Goasomanhene, echoed this view, with one chief affirming, “Otumfuo’s linguist, the chiefs have unanimously agreed that they cannot continue working with her. She must go.”
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, while emphasizing the gravity of the matter, made it clear that the integrity of Ashanti customs must always be maintained, particularly when it involves the Golden Stool and the Great Oath. “As the custodian of the Golden Stool, I am charged with the duty to protect these sacred traditions,” he stated. Reflecting on his role as Asantehene, he added, “When I ascended the throne, I was told that I have no mother, no brother, only the Golden Stool and the Great Oath to uphold.”
Although Otumfuo expressed personal fondness for Nana Adutwumwaa Bonin II, affectionately referring to her as “my old lady,” he underscored that tradition could not be disregarded. “I hold her in high regard, but once the Great Oath has been violated, I must follow the dictates of tradition. If I forgive her now, who will I hold accountable if it happens again? She is family, and if she needs financial support, I will help her. But she can no longer occupy the throne.”
The case originated from a dispute regarding Nana Adutwumwaa Bonin II’s royal lineage, which was called into question by Achiasebaapanin Nana Akua Afriyie, who invoked the Great Oath to challenge her legitimacy. In response, Nana Adutwumwaa Bonin II invoked the oath herself, asserting her royal status and claiming kinship with Nana Akua Afriyie.
A committee was established to investigate the claims, and after thoroughly examining the traditional family lines, it was determined that Nana Adutwumwaa Bonin II did not have any legitimate royal ties to the Achiase family.
Upon receiving the committee’s findings, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II commented that the situation could have been avoided if Nana Adutwumwaa Bonin II had refrained from invoking the Great Oath in return. “She had the opportunity to handle this peacefully, but chose otherwise. Now that the investigation has revealed the truth, I must ensure the stool is rightfully restored to its legitimate lineage.”
In addition to being removed from her position, Nana Adutwumwaa Bonin II was fined four rams for invoking the Great Oath without just cause during the investigation.
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