His Royal Majesty, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has destooled three chiefs following their involvement in illegal mining activities at Sabronum, in the Ahafo Ano South-East District of the Ashanti Region.
According to the overlord of the Ashanti Kingdom, he fortified himself with information, particularly from a report by The Chronicle and the National Investigation Bureau (NIB), concerning illegal mining activities at Sabronum, to find these chiefs complicit, thus their destoolment.
It will be recalled that in the July 3, 2024 edition of The Chronicle, reported on the galamsey issue in Sabronum and how polling station executives of the ruling New Patriotic Party had threatened to cease working for the party if action was not taken to end the menace.
At the Asanteman Traditional Council Meeting held at Manhyia on Monday, August 26, 2024 the occupant of the Golden Stool, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, mentioned that The Chronicle had published about the galamsey activities in the area, so he was aware.
He destooled the three chiefs, namely Sabronum Gyaasehene, Nana Gyau Baffour Atuonin, who had been acting as Caretakers of Sabronum Traditional Council ever since the chief of the area kicked the bucket.
The other two chiefs are; Nana Osei Kwadwo, who is the Sabronum Akyeamehene and Nana Tabiri Gyansah, the Baamuhene of Sabronum.
To symbolise that the three chiefs have indeed been destooled, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II ordered that their native sandals be removed, an order which was swiftly adhered to.
“Apart from Akwamuhene, the rest have been destooled; take off their sandals,” Otumfuo ordered.
The Ashanti King, who spoke through a linguist, disclosed to the chiefs that he was aware of the galamsey menace at Sabronum.
“I gave the town to you; you could not take care of it. I’ve long been following up on this matter. It was reported in The Chronicle. This is also the report from the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI); your names are clearly mentioned here in this report,” Asantehene told the chiefs.
Otumfuo also expressed disappointment about the legacies of the chiefs he had sacked from Sabronum, saying that they could not be good stewards of the said community.
“If I still keep you in charge, you will destroy my communities and ruin the lives of our people,” Otumfuo angrily said, and threatened to get them arrested if they go back to the community to carry themselves as traditional leaders and continue with their nefarious activities.
“The DCE could not muster courage to cause your arrest, but I have destooled you, and as you go, do not dare engage in anything untoward else I will cause your arrest. I will arrest all of you. I am telling you. The power that you wielded, which you have turned into galamsey, has come to an end,” the Ashanti Monarch fumed.
He continued that “Sabronum does not belong to you to collapse it. Women are struggling to get potable drinking water for their survival, all because of your parochial mission to enrich yourselves.”
Touching on the skewed process in the selection of the paramount chief for Sabronum Traditional Council, Asantehene expressed worry about the development.
According to His Royal Majesty, he is privy to every development that is on at Sabronum.
“You do not know that I know what goes on at Sabronum? I am there with you, and I know all about what is going on. That is why I have mentioned the names that you have considered to you,” Otumfuo revealed to the chiefs.
Asantehene told the sacked chiefs not to hold themselves as chiefs of the Sabronum Traditional Council, directing Kofi Asante and Nana Yaw Marfo, who is the Akwamuhene, to take care of Sabronum for him.
