The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu Ababio, has given a chilling account of how he was deliberately denied royalty whilst growing up.
He says he was brought up that way by his uncle, then Asantehene, Nana Agyeman Prempeh II, who planned his life devoid of royalty, for reasons best known to him.
According to the Asantehene, he was denied access to Manhyia and taken away from his mom, not to give him the slightest idea that he was a royal.
Until recently, the Asantehene says he had known his uncle who took care of him as his biological father.
During his 74th birthday Anniversary Monday, May 06, 2024, the Asantehene, at a Thanksgiving service at the St. Cyrian Anglican Church in Kumasi, narrated how he was taken away from Manhyia till the day he was installed King of the Asantes.
He said because his father was a womaniser, the mother wanted a divorce after his elder sibling whom he directly follows was born.
But his uncle, then Asantehene, Otumfuo Nana Agyeman Prempeh II, told the mother something that led to his eventual conception.
Read below, the entire story as narrated by Otumfuo, during the service which is also part of the Thanksgiving for his 25th anniversary of his ascension on the Golden Stool.
My mother told me she wanted a divorce from my father after giving birth to my sibling, the one I come after. She said my father was a womanizer. She told me my uncle, then Asantehene, Osei Agyeman Prempeh (Nana Kwame Kyeretwie) told her not to get divorce because he hasn’t gotten what he wanted [from my mother’s marriage]. So, my parents got separated for a while before my mother returned to conceive me. She said my father was continuing with his deeds after giving birth to me so she said she wouldn’t stay in the marriage. And she said my uncle told her that ‘Afia, I’ve gotten what I wanted so if you can’t, get divorced’.
So, about four years after my birth, I was given to my uncle Kwadwo Bonsu, called Oheneba Mensah Bonsu who was then Hiahene. It was a ploy between my mother and uncle because my uncle didn’t want me to be raised in royalty. So my uncle took me in as his son. He told me I came after his eldest son, Afodour, and up until recently, I thought I came after him. He sent me to a division school there and took care of me. They didn’t even want me to know Manhyia so never brought me there. My biological mother used to come to our house at Ashtown under the guise of visiting her brother, my uncle. Once in a while, Nana Asantehene would come and I’ll be asked to serve him and he will ask of my wellbeing but because they weren’t saying anything, I didn’t know him. Through that I completed division school and had to enter the secondary school.
My uncle took me to Osae to get all my prospectus for Prempeh College. The current Adontenhene’s mother was the one that bought my prospectus. I was there one day when they came to tell me I was going to be transferred to a different school from Prempeh. Most of my friends from Ashtown were all at Prempeh College so I also wanted to be there. K.Y. Asafo Adjei, Mark Addo, Kwabena Poku and others were all there.
But because they knew what they were doing, it was Sehwi Wiawso that they took me to. Mr. Osae was the headmaster [at Prempeh College] and he said a disciplinarian friend of his has been transferred from Opoku Ware to Sehwi Wiawso so they will take me there. Everything had been orchestrated between my two uncles, (Oheneba Mensah Bonsu and Nana Agyemang Prempeh II, then Asantehene.)
He said Sehwi Wiawso chief is my son, send him there, if he needs something, he will take care of him. After school my elder brother had arrived and he had gained admission at IPS (now UPSA) to go and study accountancy so he asked him to hand me over to my father’s brother, Engineer Asafo Boakye. So my mother’s brother, Bonsu, also took care of me before I travelled abroad to continue my study. In abroad, I stayed with my brother, Fodour, before Nana Boadu took care of my stay and education over there. Everything was the handiwork of Hiahene. I didn’t know my mother’s side. It was after all that that I am where I am today.
What did my uncles see to do what they did? What did Nana Agyeman Prempeh II see to say ‘Afia, I haven’t gotten what I want?’ So, if I am 74 years today, that is my beginning. So, if we are praising God for it, we should know that I was denied royalty from my beginning in order not to be swollen headed so I could be nurtured properly to become who I am today. So, it was the two of them and I always give them praise.
When it comes to the Kingship, it started from the 21st of March 1999 when I left Accra to Kumasi for the burial of my elder brother. Before coming to Kumasi, it was Sam Esson Jonah and Alhaji Yussif who gave me money to come to Kumasi. He made AGC aircraft flew me from Accra to Obuasi before journeying to Kumasi to extend my courtesies to Nana Asantehemaa. Then my elder brother’s (Otumfuo Opoku Ware II) burial proceeded the next day. It was after then that all the necessary traditions and rites followed before getting to this stage.
I have been lucky to meet a good woman who is content with whatever she has and cares for everyone around me and what concerns me is her priority. By the grace of God, she is part of my journey to this stage.
Talking about Asanteman, Nana Mamponghene, Juabenhene, my younger brother and all the chiefs have served me till date. Those I came to meet, Manso Nkwantahene, Juabenhene, Mamponghene and those who came later have all served with love. Elders of Kumasi have all served me well.
My nephews and grandchildren were the ones that played the ‘Mpintin’ that ushered me in just as it was done in the olden days. This shows the love they all have amongst themselves.
President Kufuor started from our childhood till now. Oheneyere Nana Frema, the Chief of Staff, were all part. Nana Konadu [Agyeman Rawlings] is also part of those who have been with me since. Three days ago, Ga Mantse came all the way from Accra to join me celebrate my anniversary from Friday till this service and has also promised to attend the grand durbar on Sunday.
I am grateful to the pastors from the Methodist, Catholic, Anglican and all the churches for their prayers. It suggests it is prayers alone that can do everything. I don’t rely on men. I don’t trust men and I don’t believe men can help me and that is why I always call on you to always pray for me.
For the 25 years, there is no single soul who can say take this to intervene in my matter for me. In all these, I want God to help me for the remaining days ahead and all I need is progress, wisdom and unity from all of Ghana and Asanteman for progress. I will do my part and all of us have to also do our portion. One beautiful thing I saw today was the people I have never seen in years who are all here today. I promise to be faithful to you forever.
Otumfuo destools Antoa chief for bending Asante custom in his favour
