The King of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has criticized chiefs for personalizing stool properties and housing them in their private residences instead of their Palaces.
His Majesty while addressing the Asanteman Council on August 26, 2024, noted that stool properties including royal cloths, ornaments, footwear, cars and others belong to the stool and therefore not personal belongings which could be inherited by the family of any chief.
According to him, they must be inherited by successive chiefs as they are peripherals of the stool.
He observes that the personalization of such important properties denies successive chiefs access to them.
He, therefore, directed all chiefs to take steps to convey such properties to their Palaces immediately.
Additionally, he counselled them to make conscious efforts to add up to properties they came to meet.
“All properties I have acquired in my tenure are not mine. It is kept here. Whenever I need one, I make the demand and it is given to me. If you buy a car, it should be registered in the name of the stool and should not be inherited by your sons and daughters when you die. Yes take care of your children as you live but stool properties aren’t theirs.”
The Monarch also advised the traditional authorities to build wealth around their stools to ensure their security.
This counsel was given when Obogumahene Nana Owusu Ampah III- who not long ago swore the oath of allegiance before Otumfuo- took advantage of the Council meeting to express his appreciation to the King.
Source: Manhyia Palace
