The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, yesterday formally welcomed the newly enstooled Asantehemaa, Nana Ama Bonsu, in a grand ceremony steeped in age-old tradition at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.
Nana Ama Bonsu, who becomes the 15th Asantehemaa, succeeds the late Nana Konadu Yiadom III, who passed away in August 2025. The atmosphere at the introduction ceremony was electric, as hundreds of women, mostly clad in black and red attire, celebrated what many described as a new dawn for the Asante Kingdom.
After chairing a meeting of the Kumasi Traditional Council, the Asantehene walked the roughly 100-metre distance to the Asantehemaa's palace to honour Asante custom and heritage with a royal reception.
The gathering welcomed Nana Ama Bonsu with wild excitement, singing, dancing, and pouring talcum powder on her as a symbol of blessing and royalty.
Nana Ama Bonsu is the direct granddaughter of Otumfuo Agyeman Prempeh I, who, together with the legendary Nana Yaa Asantewaa, was captured and exiled by the British to the Seychelles Islands during the British-Asante War. She is also a niece of Otumfuo Sir Osei Agyeman Prempeh II and a direct biological sister to the late Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly Chief Executive, Nana Akwasi Agyeman.
In line with tradition, she was escorted on foot from her family home, located opposite the Palace, to the official residence. Upon her arrival, she was ushered into the Palace and seated on the official stool of the Asantehemaa. Otumfuo's Linguist, Baffour Kantankrakyi, then formally informed her of her enstoolment, completing the traditional rites.
At the Asanteman Traditional Council's meeting in Kumasi later this week, the Asantehene will present Nana Ama Bonsu to the council to conclude her enstoolment. Hundreds of well-wishers, chiefs, and dignitaries thronged the Palace to pay homage to the new queen, who now assumes the second-highest traditional authority within the Asante Kingdom.
