The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has cautioned chiefs against considering the stools they occupy as gold mines from which they could easily amass wealth at the expense of the development of their traditional areas.“I detest such corrupt practices and I will not hesitate to destool any chief in my area who indulges in such a negative activity,” he said.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu gave the warning when the Chief of Nkwantakesie, near Kumasi, Nana Yaw Boakye II, took the oath of allegiance at the Manhyia Palace last Thursday. The Asantehene has expressed regret that some chiefs still believed that a respected chief is one who “swims in affluence, attends funerals and other functions with big umbrellas and the best of cloths”, while his community faces many developmental challenges.

Such chiefs, he noted, would never have peace with their people because the people were now wide awake. Otumfuo Osei Tutu reminded his chiefs that chieftaincy had come a long way, saying the most respected chief was one who would lead his people to bring development to the community. The Asantehene added that any chief who sold stool property should be considered a nation wrecker.