A 45-year-old Justice of the Court of Appeal, Emmanuel Ankamah, has sworn the oath of allegiance to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, as the new Omanhene of Sampa Traditional Area in the Bono region.

Under the stool name Nana Samgba Gyafla II, the new Omanhene becomes the highest-ranking member of the judiciary and highest-ranking member of the public service to serve concurrently as a paramount chief.

He was led to take the oath at the last sitting of the Asanteman Traditional Council of the year by a large contingent of Sampa kingmakers, including Nana Siedjo Patazin II, Mansihene, Nana Kwadwo Magsa, Adontenhene, Nana Yeboah Asiamah, Tufuhene, Nana Woli Kofi Twentwan II, Kyidomhene and Nana Sei Kofi Ajaro, Kontihene.

Others were Nana Allah-Kaboe, Wrempehene, Nana Nyua Kofi, Aduanahene, Nana Takyi Poku, Akyeamehene, and Nana Kwadwo Akomea, Akyempimhene.

All member states of Asanteman warmly welcomed the new Omanhene into their fold and urged him to work hard to bring peace and development to his people.

Offinsohene-elect Introduced

Meanwhile, a 68-year-old curator of Asante History has been presented to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II as the Offinsohene-elect.

The subsequent acceptance of Nana Amoako Poku, a royal of the Offinso Ahyirem Royal Family by the occupant of the Golden Stool ends several months of waiting for a substantive chief to occupy that important Asona stool.

The stool became vacant following the demise of Nana Wiafe Akenten III on October 2, 2021, at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital after a short illness.

A release signed by the Chief of Staff at the Manhyia Palace, Kofi Badu said the Offinsohene-elect was presented to the Asantehene at the final session of the Asanteman Council on Monday, December 18, 2023, by Kwakwaboa Abusuapanin, Opanin Yaw Nkrumah Adusah.

It followed the failure of the Queen mother of Offinso, who for the third time, failed to nominate a qualified royal of the Offinso Royal Family to occupy the stool

“By Asante tradition, the Abusuapanin assumed responsibility, in consultation with the royal family, to nominate a qualified royal for the stool,” the statement said.

Member states of the Asanteman Council warmly welcomed the new Omanhene whilst urging him to work hard to bring peace and development to his people.