Kumasi, July 28, 2026 – The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has destooled Nana Kwabena Nsiah Ababio, the Paramount Chief of Kenyase No. 2 in the Ahafo Region, after finding him guilty of violating the customs and traditions of the Asante Kingdom. The decision, announced at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, brings to an end the chief’s decades-long reign and underscores the Asante Kingdom’s commitment to upholding traditional values, accountability and discipline among chiefs.
The ruling was delivered during a sitting of the Asanteman Traditional Council at the Manhyia Palace, where the Asantehene presided over proceedings involving allegations against the chief. After hearing the case, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II declared Nana Kwabena Nsiah Ababio destooled for conduct deemed inconsistent with the customs, traditions and responsibilities of a paramount chief within the Asante Kingdom.
According to the proceedings, the chief was found to have breached several customary regulations governing traditional leadership. Although the full details of the violations were not immediately disclosed publicly, the Asantehene maintained that traditional leaders are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity, respect customary laws and protect the dignity of the stools they occupy.
The destoolment formally strips Nana Kwabena Nsiah Ababio of all traditional authority, privileges and responsibilities associated with the Kenyase No. 2 Paramount Stool. Under Asante custom, a chief who is destooled ceases to exercise any authority over the traditional area and can no longer perform official functions as a traditional ruler.
The decision is one of several disciplinary measures taken by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II in recent years to enforce accountability within the Asante Kingdom. The Asantehene has consistently emphasised that chiefs must administer their traditional areas in accordance with customary law, protect communal lands, promote development and maintain peace among their people. Chiefs who fail to meet these obligations risk facing sanctions, including suspension or destoolment.
Traditional governance experts say the decision demonstrates the continued importance of customary institutions in Ghana’s governance system. While chiefs do not exercise executive political authority under the Constitution, they play significant roles in dispute resolution, land administration, cultural preservation and community development. As such, adherence to customary laws remains central to maintaining public confidence in traditional leadership.
Residents and traditional authorities are expected to begin consultations on the process of selecting a successor in accordance with the customs and traditions governing the Kenyase No. 2 Paramount Stool. The process is expected to involve the appropriate royal family, kingmakers and the Asanteman Traditional Council before a new chief is nominated and enstooled.
The latest development has generated widespread public discussion, particularly within traditional circles, with many viewing the decision as a reaffirmation of the Asante Kingdom’s long-standing commitment to discipline, accountability and respect for customary authority. Observers note that the enforcement of traditional laws is essential to preserving the credibility of Ghana’s chieftaincy institution.
The Manhyia Palace has not indicated when the process to install a new paramount chief will commence. However, customary procedures require that all succession processes be conducted in accordance with established traditions to ensure legitimacy and stability within the traditional area.
The destoolment is expected to have significant implications for traditional administration in Kenyase No. 2 as the community awaits the appointment of a new leader to continue the affairs of the paramountcy under the guidance of the Asanteman Traditional Council.
SEIDU HUEBIDATU