Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has vowed to destool all chiefs within whose jurisdictions the abominable land guard practices are fast emerging.
He says he has set up a committee made up of security agencies to investigate the illegal practice gaining roots in the Ashanti Region.
He served the notice during a meeting with the members of the Asanteman Council on Thursday, July 4, 2024, at the Manhyia Palace- their first meeting after the climax of the Silver Jubilee celebration of the King.
Otumfuo stated that chiefs who will be implicated by the report will not be spared of destoolment.
“A practice that didn’t have any place in Asanteman has started gaining roots- Land guards. The police and the military will tell me where the practices are taking place and all those who will be implicated will lose their stools. Let’s wait for the report to come out.”
He furthered, “Lands do not move and they cannot be taken anywhere. In case of any dispute, there are modalities to settle it. When I gave the land to you, I didn’t add any land guards why should you resort to their use?”
Additionally, he tackled issues of illegal mining in other parts of Asanteman as he stated that Nananom have a hand in it.
“I will investigate any chief who gets implicated in any illegal mining report that comes before me henceforth and destool you. We have some of those cases pending before us which must be fast-tracked.”
The Ashanti Regional Security Council in a press statement dated June 20, 2024, expressed concerns about a surge in the illegal operations of land guards in the region.
The Council acknowledged the time-tested modalities in the Region that have kept it devoid of land guards over the years and urged persons with land disputes to use the accepted channels.
“Over the years, the Ashanti Region has been fortunate because all stool lands are vested in His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, with his chiefs as caretakers. There is therefore every opportunity in instances of land controversies and disputes, to appeal to His Majesty for the resolution of the disputes.
Source: Manhyia Palace
