The King of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has destooled Wirempehene Nana Opia Mensah II for desecrating and abusing the Great Oath (Ntamkɛseɛ) contrary to statute and tradition.
He was destooled on Monday, September 2, 2024, during a meeting by the Kumasi Traditional Council at the Manhyia Palace.
The 90-year-old former Member of Parliament (MP) reigned for 54 years before his eventual destoolment.
Otumfuo while decrying his apparent disregard and disrespect towards the solemnity of the Great Oath chastised him for his attempt to distort history for personal gains.
His Majesty noted that his educational background and his contributions during the Busia era were the reasons he was entrusted with the stool and nothing close to royalty.
“Nana Opia, despite knowing the stool wasn’t rightfully yours, you deceitfully invoked the Great Oath. You were fully aware that the stool didn’t belong to you, yet you chose to challenge its ownership. You thought your longer reign would give you an advantage, allowing you to hide behind the Great Oath. However, since you exploited and misused the Great Oath, you must relinquish the stool.”
The traditional slippers of the chief were immediately taken off in accordance with custom.
It comes after a Committee report presented to the Council on Thursday, August 15, 2024, found that the Aduana Clan to which Nana Opia belongs is not the royal house but the Oyoko.
History About Great Oath
His Majesty who was visibly provoked by the spate at which the Great oath is abused by chiefs noted that the oath is no joke as it reflects the pain Asantehene went through at a time when all his nephews kept dying.
At the time, he recounted, the sister of the reigning Monarch, Nana Osei Tutu was married to Amakomhene Adu Panin, however, all the first two children they produced died which left the Asantehene distressed as he feared he may not have a nephew succeed him.
It took the intervention of the Kingdom’s priest for their third child to survive and thereby established as the Great Oath of Asantehene.
“This is my deepest sorrow and you all tend to abuse it now. I give you the history today so that you appreciate it and honour it. When individuals invoke it and come before me, I caution them about the consequences. Let it be known that no one, regardless of their position, can invoke it and escape punishment if found guilty.”
Source: Manhyia Palace
