Former Member of Parliament and Wirempehene, Nana Opia Mensah has been destooled by Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II for lying to the Manhyia Palace.
According to Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Nana Opia Mensah swore an oath before him that he owns the Mim and Wirempem stools even that he knew that he was not the rightful occupant of the stool he has been occupying for decades.
As a result of this deceitful act, Otumfuo ordered for the destoolment of Nana Opia Mensah and his sandals were removed from his feet at the Asanteman Council Meeting on Monday, September 2, 2024, thus signifying that he was no longer a chief in the Kingdom.
“You swore by my great oath that you own the Mim and Wirempem stools. You, Opia Mensah, know that you were not the rightful occupant; you are very much aware of this. So you shouldn’t have sworn by the oath. But because you’ve occupied the stool for a long time, you think you can just have your way by swearing the great oath. No, I will not allow this.
“You are knowledgeable, and you know the consequences that follow swearing by the great oath and making false claims. He knew that was not right, but he went ahead and swore. So you are destooled. Leave my stool for me,” Otumfuo fumed.
Otumfuo added that Opia Mensah who was a Member of Parliament under the Dr. K.A Busia regime was elected to become the Chief because he was the most educated and knowledgeable person at Mim and not because he was the rightful person.
“Opia Mensah, you are a statesman. You were a Member of Parliament during Dr. K.A. Busia’s regime. You were elected to become the Chief because, at the time, you were the most educated and knowledgeable person at Mim. You’ve occupied this stool for many years.”
“It got to a time when you began making certain claims that you had documents to prove that you are a true royal who is legitimately occupying the stool and swearing by the great Asante Oath, and I warned you to stop that. I told you not to swear and allow me to handle the issue.”
Nana Opia Mensah becomes the 4th Chief to have been destooled by the Asantehene in the last 10 days.
The three chiefs – Gyaasehene of Sabronum, Nana Awua Gyau Atuomi, Sabronum’s Akyeamehene, and the Baamuhene for their involvement in illegal mining (galamsey)