The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has destooled the Apatrapahemaa, Oheneba Akyaa Panin III, after determining that she is not of royal descent and therefore lacks the legitimate lineage required to occupy the stool.
Following a 24-year reign, her traditional footwear was publicly removed at the Manhyia Palace in a customary ceremony that formally marked her removal as queenmother.
The decision came after findings revealed that Oheneba Akyaa Panin III is not of royal blood, rendering her claim to the Apatrapahemaa stool invalid. Her asserted lineage to the Bosom Prah Kumaa Stool of Apatrapa was found to be without basis and was consequently rejected.
The family of Nana Kwafo, the first chief to ascend the Apatrapa stool, maintained that the destooled queenmother has no blood relationship to the royal lineage. They explained that her family was originally accepted into the household solely in a caretaker capacity and not as members of the royal family.
According to the family, when the Apatrapa stool became vacant and the legitimate royal lineage had no qualified male successor, the caretaker family temporarily assumed control of the stool.
In his ruling, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II upheld the position of Nana Kwafo’s family, stating that historical records show no genealogical or customary link between the Apatrapa stool and the Bosom Prah Kumaa Stool.
Consequently, the Asantehene has directed Maame Pomaa to assume temporary custodianship of the stool while traditional processes are initiated to identify a qualified and legitimate candidate to ascend it
