On Sunday July 18, 2026, I responded to a call from Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene to pay homage to His Royal Highness, current occupant of the Golden Stool, and it was a great spectre worthy to behold.
Many of the subjects of the Asantehene have missed and are missing a lot, not because of a reluctance, but due to the intricacies and complications of strict customs and mores that restrict access to the Manhyia Palace.
But unless we familiarise ourselves with some of these mores, we may never understand the structure, arrangement and organisation which operate at the palace to give us insight into what constitutes the Asante Kingdom.
When we get closer to those who understand, appreciate and manage our customs, traditions and mores, we would not undermine the essence of chieftaincy, especially relating to the Asante Kingdom and the Asantehene in particular, as the only traditional area that transcends regions across the country, from Ashanti, through Ahafo, Bono, Bono East to Eastern and Volta Regions, united by culture underlined by language and deep bonds with the Dagbon Kingdom, sheltering lasting relations between Asantes and Dagombas.
It seems the only other traditional authority that could rival the Asante Kingdom beyond regions, is that of the Nayiri (Mamprusis).
Many Ghanaians admire royalty across Europe, Asia and the Middle East, but when it comes to Africa, and particularly in Ghana, some of us openly speak as if chieftaincy must be loathed as a vermin.
Some solely depend on chieftaincy disputes and lack of certainty as to who next ascends the stool or skin to disparage and disdain the institution.
Thankfully, those who patronise the Manhyia Palace to pay homage to the Asantehene, especially during festivals and customary observations, get better informed about our culture and civilisation. Those who serve the Asantehene are equally of blue blood and do so voluntarily and according to tradition.
They readily offer their services as a matter of self pride, not through any material inducements nor financial reward.
We undervalue and underestimate traditional knowledge.
Somehow we need to appreciate our customs and mores, for unrelated to the calendar developed by Europe, there are nine observances of Akwasidae annually, with the ninth seen as Akwasidae Kesee, meaning the big Akwasidae.
Akwasidae is observed every six weeks.
Thus, the difference between the European calendar year and the calendar year of the Asante Kingdom is not significant.
How can anyone then suggest that our approach to measuring the days, weeks and months of the year are inferior to that of the Europeans.
And these were determined long before the European intruders and invaders reached the shores of Ghana, with the gin and gun in their hands.
Praises
When Queen Elizabeth died and Prince Charles was crowned King Charles to succeed her, there were many Ghanaians who heaped praises upon the British Monarch over the orderly process of change.
But when subsequently the Yagbonwura died and the Gonjas peacefully enskinned Yagbonwura Bii-Kuntuo Jewu Soale I, the praise singers of the British system, went mute.
However,the process of the succession plan among the Gonjas, is more elaborate, complex, fair, open and intricate, offering a large cohort of royals the opportunity to be enskinned as of common ancestral heritage, than the British process that reserves the position to specific individuals based on the sequence of their births, irrespective of their intelligence, wisdom and knowledge.
Anyway, my immediate preoccupation and focus today is about what I witnessed and saw at the Dwabrem at Manhyia Palace at the last Akwasidae.
The place was filled to capacity with the chiefs seated under small umbrellas that did not make it easy to distinguish the adikro from the abrempon and the amanhene.
But as soon as Otumfuo Osei Tutu entered the Dwabrem, as if on cue, all the umbrellas virtually vanished, in a military precision manner to be spontaneously replaced with bigger umbrellas immediately Otumfuo took his seat.
As to how those big umbrellas entered the ground, only those who understand the traditions and mores can explain.
But for those observing the ceremony for the first time, including my good self, it was a marvelous tradition or custom.
The procession of Otumfuo itself looked like a labyrinth, never ending and flowing seamlessly.
Then immediately Otumfuo took his seat, the Royal family stood in readiness, to go and greet the Asantehene, a measure of assurance that they have put their trust in him and were enthusiastic about his leadership.
Once royalty concluded, the chiefs, organised in groups, Fekuo, took their turns in a very organised manner, without any formal listing, but culturally sequenced,to wish him well.
It was only after this that others who had come to pay homage, were invited to greet the King, His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu, this time purposively constructed through a list.
The difference though is that whereas members of the Royal family and the chiefs stood at a distance to wish the Asantehene well by bowing,the visitors, who were called in groups or turns, had the privilege to shake his hands and exchange warm greetings, with him indulging in conversations with a few.
He exuded warmth and one felt a sense of delight after the greeting.
Since I could not wait for the ceremony to conclude this is how far I could observe and it is my wish to go there another time to observe to the end of proceedings to learn more about the customs, culture and mores, amamere ne amanee, to enable me to appreciate fully and meaningfully, the significance of such customary observations.
Sake
I am recounting these for the sake of those who may never have the privilege or do not have the urge to visit the Manhyia Palace to equally learn about some of the things which happen there.
Indeed, I will make it an obligation to visit and study issues about the Manhyia Palace to give me insight into how the Asante Kingdom has survived all the jerks and jolts to remain resilient and enduring despite the underpinnings of colonialism.
And the added joy was that I had the privilege to meet former MP and NPP Presidential aspirant, Mr Addai Nimoh; former and aspiring National Chairman of NPP, Mr Paul Afoko; former Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Simon Osei Mensah, sitting Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, regional security heads and former MPs for Subin and Asante Akyem North, Eugene Boakye Antwi Andy Appiah Kubi; respectively.
By the time that I left the Manhyia Palace, although the ceremony had not come to the climax, I felt fulfilled and was eager to attend the next event, especially as Otumfuo directed that I come back to see him for discussion and wait anxiously for the Chiefs of Protocol, Mr Saahene, to call me for an appointment with Opemsuo Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, in the shortest possible time.
Nana, Ohene, Otekokoosoo, Otumfuo, Opemsuo nya nkwa. Long live the King.
