The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has threatened to destool the Bantamahene, Baffour Owusu Amankwatia VI if he continues to engage in activities that bring the stool he occupies into disrepute.
Baffour Owusu Amankwatia VI appeared before Otumfuo and the Kumasi Traditional Council(KTC) on Monday, February 20 over a piece of land he allegedly sold to two different parties.
After deliberations, Otumfuo instructed the Bantamahene to hand over the land to one Mr. Amponsah whom he first sold the land.
He also directed him to return within 14 days the money he took from the other party, a church, as he promised before the traditional Council.
During the meeting, the Asantehene said “Baffour with the stature of the stool you occupy if such cases come before me it means you are disgracing me.”
“This is not the first and second time, Baffour be careful. If you don’t repent you will supervise your own destoolment, tomorrow I will not forget to dismiss you. Bantamahene doesn’t deserve this prosecution. You are lowering the stature of the Bantama stool,’’ Otumfuo fumed.
He added “Baffour what are you looking for in this world, how much debt do you owe for this rush for money? Why? Because of your father, you are making things very difficult for me.”
It will be recalled that Otumfuo publicly chastised the Bantamahene over similar land issues in July 2020.
Baffour Owusu Amankwatia VI had trespassed on portions of the Kumasi Race Course land for the construction of shops without permission from the Asantehene.
According to a report by the Daily Graphic monitored by the Ghana Report, the Bantamahene, and his elders had to kneel down to beg the Asantehene for forgiveness to prevent a possible destoolment.
A vote by the divisional chiefs present Nifa, Kyidom, Adonten, Akwamu, and others at the time of the discussions concluded the Bantamahene had acted in bad faith.
They, however, pleaded for mercy on his behalf. They impressed on the Asantehene not to destool the Bantamahene for his rebelliousness.
Baffour Owusu Amankwatia VI, known in private life as Mr. Sylvester Asare Owusu succeeded his elder brother Baffour Owusu Amankwatia V in 2016.
The Bantama stool is very prominent in Kumasi and in the Manhyia Palace and for that, the occupant of the stool pays an unalloyed loyalty, dedication, and honesty to the Asantehene.
The Bantamahene is also the head of the Krontire clan (Head of the town) of the Kumasi Traditional Council and also serves as the war marshal of the Asantehene.