The Asakyire clan has been affirmed as the true royal house of the Wawase stool in the Afigya Kwabre District of the Ashanti Region.
The Asakyire and Asenie clans have been in dispute over the true royal house. It was the case of the Asakyire that the stool was established for them, however, it lost its way into the hands of the Asenie through marriage at a time when they had no royal ready to occupy it from their end.
The Asenie argued using the number of times their members had reigned (12) to their advantage. They also indicated that the Asakyire rather owned the Nifa position.
The Kumasi Traditional Council (KTC) headed by Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II sanctioned a committee to look into the matter.
The committee looked at evidence submitted to them by both sides which included documents, witnesses, family trees, etymology of the community name and more. The Committee report was presented on September 2, 2024, during a Council meeting.
After assessing the committee report and findings, almost all the Divisions of the Council sided with Opanin Yaw Karikari Mensah, the family head of the Asakyire clan.
The final verdict by the Asantehene also declared the Asakyire as the true royal house of the stool as he referenced his personal investigations- document on the family tree and inaugural occupant of the stool.
He further went through the history and migration of the Asenie clan to affirm they indeed got to occupy the stool by chance.
Otumfuo recalled how the dissent initially started before the death of the last occupant of the stool.
“This issue came up when Kusi (the late chief) was occupying the stool. Someone invoked the Great oath over the occupants. When I heard about it, I advised him not to challenge the oath so that he could continue to reign until he died because he was well-stricken in age. He heeded my advice and so stayed till his death. The stool is indeed for the Asakyire.”
The verdict means the vacant stool this time around will be filled by the Asakyire Clan.
Source: Manhyia Palace
