The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has directed the new Offinsomanhene, Nana Dwamena Akenten II, to seek a fresh candidate to succeed Nana Ama Serwaa Nyarko, the current Queen Mother of Offinso.
The Asantehene stated that he wants a candidate who can work well with the newly installed Omanhene, such that she will be willing to cooperate and attend to summons from the Manhyia Palace without making unfounded explanations.
The Asantehene’s announcement at the Manhyia Palace signifies the end of Nana Ama Serwaa Nyarko’s tenure as Queen Mother of the Offinso Traditional Area in Asanteman.
The Asantehene made this statement on Thursday, January 11, 2024, during the first meeting of the Asanteman Council for 2024.
Nana Dwamena Akenten II, the newly installed chief of Offinso, appeared before the Asanteman Council, presided over by the Asantehene, to take his oath of allegiance.
The Asantehene’s destoolment is based on gross insubordination, especially due to the Offinsohemaa’s reluctance to appear before Otumfuo despite multiple summonses and other recorded crimes.
Nana Ama Serwaa Nyarko has nominated Dr. K. K. Sarpong, a former CEO of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), as a candidate to occupy the then-vacant Offinsomanhene seat. Nonetheless, the Asantehene expressed concerns about the candidate’s qualifications in accordance with the maternal lineage and directed the Queen Mother to act appropriately.
Following that, the Queen Mother ignored all subsequent summons by the Asantehene.
On various occasions, she cited illness as the reason she was unable to attend before Otumfuo.
The problem lingered on until the Asantehene entrusted the head of the family to take over and find a candidate. The nominated candidate, Nana Amoako Poku, was accepted by the royal family and the Manhyia Palace, and he was later enstooled with the stool name, Nana Dwamena Akenten II. He takes over for the late Nana Wiafe Akenten III.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II addressed Asanteman on Thursday, informing the new Offinsomanhene that he was bringing Offinsoman under his care alone, without a queen mother.
He charged him with finding a new queen mother who would assist him in carrying out his mandate once he had settled down.
Otumfuo stated that Offinso requires a queen mother who will be present at Manhyia when he needs her.