Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has removed the Chief of Ohwim, Nana Kusi Baaye II, from the stool after he faced several allegations for his involvement in illegal mining (galamsey) and extortion amongst other crimes.
The decision was arrived at when a sitting of the Kumasi Traditional Council was convened on Monday, February 24, 2025, where Nana Kusi Baaye II, who had served as Ohwimhene for 16 years, faced charges of desecrating the Great Oath, extortion, illegal land sales and engaging in illegal mining activities.
After a thorough assessment and interrogation by the council during the meeting, Ohwimhene, Nana Kusi Baaye II was found guilty of the charges. This resulted in the decision of the Asantehene to immediate destool him as Ohwimhene.
“You vowed with the Great Oath to be truthful but you went against it. You don’t deserve to stay on the stool. Many have sacrificed to protect the Golden Stool, I won’t allow you to destroy it,” said the Asantehene during the destoolment.
The chief was initially summoned for recklessly invoking the Asantehene’s Great Oath (Ntamkese), an act deemed deceitful to Otumfuo and a desecration of the Golden Stool.
However, further allegations surfaced during the proceedings, including false testimony in a chieftaincy dispute.
Members of his own royal family, including the family head, testified against him, accusing him of selling family lands under the pretense of acting on behalf of the Asantehene, only to later allocate them for illegal mining.
“We were told that Otumfuo had taken the land for a solar project, but realized that he was undertaking galamsey activities and destroyed the land,” his sister testified.
These revelations solidified the case against him, prompting the Asantehene to rule for his destoolment.
In his ruling, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II reaffirmed his commitment to upholding traditional authority and protecting the integrity of the Golden Stool. He emphasized the importance of accountability and ethical leadership within the chieftaincy institution.
Despite the verdict, Nana Kusi Baaye II maintained his innocence, denying all charges leveled against him.
This will not be the first time the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has destooled a chief. He has destooled several other chiefs for similar offences in the past, showing how principled he is in regards to chiefs going against their duties to their subjects.
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Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has destooled the Chief of Ohwim, Nana Kusi Baaye II, over multiple allegations, including alleged involvement in illegal mining.
Video Credit: @OpemsuoRadio #ChannelOneNews pic.twitter.com/CcKmDaPoVV
— ChannelOne TV (@Channel1TVGHA) February 25, 2025
