Otumfuo destools Ohwim Chief over multiple charges

King of the Ashanti Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has destooled the Chief of Ohwim, Nana Kusi Baaye II, over multiple allegations leveled against him at the sitting of the Kumasi Traditional Council.

During a sitting on February 24, 2025, Nana Kusi Baaye II, who has served as Ohwimhene for 16 years, was accused of defiling the Great Oath, extortion, unauthorized land sales, and engaging in illegal mining activities.

 Nana Kusi Baaye II was mainly summoned at the council meeting over the reckless invocation of the Asantehene’s Great Oath (Ntamkese), which amounted to deceiving the Otumfuo and desecrating the Golden Stool.

Following assessments and further interrogation at the council meeting, he was found guilty of the charges. However, during the proceedings, additional allegations emerged, including false testimony in a chieftaincy dispute. Which instigated his destoolment by the Asantehene.

Otumfuo said, “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.”

In the process of hearing his case, his own family head and members of his royal family 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.

His sister said: “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.”

Otumfuo ruled for his immediate destoolment, reaffirming his commitment to upholding traditional authority and protecting the integrity of the Golden Stool.

Otumfuo’s verdict for the destoolment was based on the desecration of the Great Oath.