Fiaprehene of the Bono Traditional Council, Obrempong Professor Kyem Amponsah II, has responded to Dormaahene Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyemang Badu II’s challenge to Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II regarding the latter’s intention to elevate his Traditional Council to paramountcy.
According to Obrempong Professor Kyem Amponsah II, they owe no allegiance to anyone, and their elevation to paramountcy by the Asantehene cannot be blocked.
He revealed that the Traditional Council had submitted a request for paramountcy to the House of Chiefs within their jurisdiction, but their request was ignored. As a result, they turned to Otumfuo for the elevation.
In a video shared on YouTube, Obrempong stated to his council members, “If he likes, he should speak the truth and let people know that we submitted an application to the House of Chiefs, and they ignored us. That is why, when Otumfuo called us, we responded to his call in the Ashanti Region. He has the right to make us paramount, and there are no hindrances to that.”
He continued, “There is nothing to show that our land belongs to anybody. The land belongs to Fiapre, and there are no documents supporting the claim that it belongs to someone else. I have not sworn allegiance to anybody, so no one can tell me that if I want to become paramount, I need to seek approval from someone before I can be elevated.
“There are no documents proving that we live on someone else’s land. My chiefs support me, and by God’s grace, we will be elevated to paramountcy. If that happens, and as he has claimed that he will destool himself, then he should go ahead and do so,” he said.
Dormaahene Osagyefo Dr. Agyemang Badu II has stated that he will abdicate the throne and renounce his title as the chief of the Dormaa Traditional Council if Otumfuo fulfils his promise to elevate the Fiapre Traditional Council to paramountcy.
“I challenge the Asantehene Otumfuo, as the Dormaahene and Bono President, that if he elevates the Fiapre stool to paramountcy, I will abdicate the throne given to me by the Bono people on that very day,” he said while addressing the media on March 21, 2025.
The traditional ruler expressed his strong disapproval of the Asantehene’s statement, emphasising that the authority to make such a significant decision rests in his hands since the Fiapre Council falls under his jurisdiction and authority.
He further questioned the Asantehene’s authority to make such a statement while he, the Dormaahene, was still alive.
“I am not trying to undermine anyone, but the power resides in my hands, bestowed upon me by the ancestors. How can you make such a pronouncement while I am still alive? As for that, Asantehene, you cannot do it. What authority do you have as a manhene [chief of Asanteman]?”
He added, “When we speak of chiefs in Ghana, we speak of paramount chiefs. Paramountcy means there are no authorities above the paramount chief. I have said that it will take a bold president to change the laws before such a move can be implemented. We will see if he can rule for even a week in this country.”
His remarks follow the Asantehene’s intention to elevate four divisional councils in the Bono and Ahafo Regions to paramountcy. The divisional councils in the Bono Region include Nkyeraa, Fiapre, Atronie, and Menye.
Speaking at the Asanteman Council meeting at the Manhyia Palace on Monday, March 17, 2025, Otumfuo hinted at his plans to honour these councils, stating that he has the sole authority to do so.
“Nkyeraa is mine, Menye is mine. No one other than myself can elevate them. They are all mine. I will elevate those councils in Bono and Ahafo this year. I will do it. No one else but I have the sole authority to elevate them,” he is quoted as saying by Opemsuo.com.
In 2024, the Fiapre Traditional Council explained their decision to reunite with the Asanteman and seek the elevation of their chief to paramountcy despite being located in the Bono Region.
According to traditional authorities, the decision to join the Asanteman dates back to the tenure of their late chief, Nana Poku.
The traditional authorities explained that they had long sought to elevate their chieftaincy through the Bono House of Chiefs but were unsuccessful, prompting them to seek the intervention of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II in the Ashanti Region.
AM/SEA
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