The Bantamahene, Baffour Amankwatia VI, has offered a plea of guilty to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, for his involvement in a dispute among three factions laying ownership to the Tano deity.

The factions have for months been in a traditional tussle over who the true owners of the deity are.

The deity, Asare Bediako, was reportedly stolen from its sacred abode at Adanwomase by one of the groups, with the Bantamahene being accused of having been implicated in the dispute.

In March 2025, Asantehene ordered Baffour Amankwatia to retrieve and return the looted deity to the Sumankwaahene after unsuccessful attempts in the early weeks of the month.

Bantamahene was found guilty of contempt for taking sides in the matter, and consequently fined eight rams after failing to retrieve the looted deity.

Nearly two months after the search, the Bantamahene has successfully returned the looted deity to the Sumankwaahene.

“He has performed all the needed rites and returned the deity to Sumankwaahene,” reported the Asafohene, Akyamfour Asafo Boakye Agyemang-Bonsu.

After meeting the customary requirements, Baffour subsequently offered a plea of guilty, known locally as “Dibim” to the Asantehene as a sign of remorse.

Receiving the plea, the Asantehene noted he has no plans of destooling the local chief for his recent involvement in the disputes.

In his remarks, Otumfuo chastised the Bantamahene for taking sides in the outstanding case.

Background

The three factions represented by Maame Akua Kyem, Opanyin Kwadwo Yadieya and Opanyin Yaw Gyamfi have been claiming ownership of the deity as well as the Adanwomase stool.

Akua Kyem had alleged that her predecessors – members of the Aduana clan – migrated from Denkyira to Asante with the deity and resided with Bantama Gyaase – an Aduana clan – at Abuakwa Asonomaso.

As time went by, when the Adanwomase stool became vacant, she said, the family of Opanyin Yadieya requested to occupy it and was granted.

They have since claimed ownership, she said.

Committee Findings

The Committee’s report found that the true owners of the deity as well as the community was indeed the family of Akua Kyem based on her succinct recount of the historical precedents relating to the deity.

These claims were corroborated by Bantama Gyaasehene and the Wawase traditional priest.

But the Bantamahene had earlier insisted on the deity belonging to the family of Opanyin Yadieya.

However, the committee found the family tree of the other two as well as some of their recounts questionable and conflicting.

Thus, the committee unanimously ruled in favour of Akua Kyem.

The Asantehene affirmed the Committee’s findings despite the Bantamahene refuting claims that the deity belonged to the other faction.

Meanwhile, the Asantehene has set Monday to deliver his final verdict on the outstanding issue.