Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, officially destooled Nana Adutwumwaa Bonin II, the Queen of the Denyase Traditional Council in the Ashanti Region, for violating the sacred Great Oath of the Ashanti Kingdom.
The decision was announced during a meeting of the Asanteman Council following accusations that Nana Adutwumwaa Bonin II had invoked the sacred oath in a manner deemed treacherous.
During the proceedings, Nana Adutwumwaa Bonin II pleaded for clemency, but the majority of the council members firmly opposed her request. One chief expressed the collective stance, saying, “Nana, we cannot forgive her because the Great Oath must be paramount in all our dealings. Violating its terms is unacceptable.”
The Goasomanhene echoed similar sentiments, stating, “My biggest fear here is the involvement of the oath, and pleading on her behalf is difficult because of the sacred nature of the oath.” Another chief added, “Otumfuo linguist, all the chiefs have said they cannot work with her, so she must go.”
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, upholding the sanctity of the Great Oath, emphasized the importance of adhering to Asante customs. “In safeguarding the Golden Stool and the Great Oath entrusted to me, I must ensure fidelity to our traditions,” he stated. Reflecting on the significance of the oath, he explained, “When I became Asantehene, I was told that I had no mother, no brother, nobody — only the Golden Stool and the Great Oath to protect.”
Although Otumfuo expressed personal affection for Nana Adutwumwaa Bonin II, affectionately referring to her as “my old lady,” he made it clear that tradition could not be compromised. “I really like the Queen… but going against the Great Oath, I have to go by what tradition dictates. If I forgive her, who will I punish if the same happens again? She is a family member, and if she needs financial help, I will assist her, but she cannot sit on the throne anymore after violating the Great Oath.”
The controversy began when Nana Adutwumwaa Bonin II’s royal lineage was questioned by Achiasebaapanin Nana Akua Afriyie, who invoked the Great Oath to challenge her legitimacy as a royal. In response, Nana Adutwumwaa Bonin II countered with her own invocation of the oath, maintaining her royal status and claiming familial ties with Nana Akua Afriyie.
A committee was subsequently formed to investigate both claims. After reviewing the traditional family trees, the committee concluded that Nana Adutwumwaa Bonin II was not a legitimate royal and had no blood relations with the Achiase lineage. Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, upon receiving the committee’s findings, remarked that Nana Adutwumwaa Bonin II could have avoided the situation by refraining from a counter-invocation of the oath.
“Denyasehemaa could have used peace to her advantage, but she chose the opposite. And since the investigation has brought this to light, I have no choice but to put the stool where it truly belongs,” Otumfuo declared.
In addition to being destooled, Nana Adutwumwaa Bonin II was fined four rams for invoking the Great Oath in vain during the committee’s investigation.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Isaac Justice Bediako