Mamponghene Daasebre Osei Bonsu II's passing officially announced after Asantehene was informed

Enoch Darfah Frimpong Apr - 28 - 2025 , 18:53 4 minutes read

The demise of the Mamponghene, the Occupant of the Silver Stool of Asanteman and second in command in the absence of the Asantehene, has been officially announced. He was 86.

The announcement was made at 4pm at the Mampong Silver Stool Palace on Monday, April 28, 2025.

After the announcement by the Gyaasehene, Nana Boakye Yiadom Atonsa, fontonfrom and atunpan drums were played to re-echo the announcement.

This came after the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II had earlier also been officially informed as tradition demands.

A high-powered delegation from the Mampong Traditional Council went to Kumasi to officially inform the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II on Monday.

Daasebre Osei Bonsu II passed on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, Graphic Online has gathered.

But as tradition demands, the Asantehene had to be officially informed before the public announcement.

Graphic Online understands, the 86-year-old Mamponghene was first taken to the KNUST Hospital in Kumasi on Thursday, April 17, 2025, from where he was referred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), also in Kumasi, where he was pronounced dead.

Announcement

The high-powered delegation from Mampong that went to Kumasi to inform the Asantehene was led by the Mamponghemaa, Nana Agyakoma Difie II.

All the divisional chiefs, the Krontihene, Gyaasehene, Ankobiahene, Apaahene, Kyidomhene, Effiduasehene (Nifa), Jamasi (Benkum), Ejurahene (Adonten) were there or represented.

Other sub-chiefs and queen mothers were also part of the delegation that went to Kumasi in their numbers to officially inform the Asantehene that his second-in-command had passed.

In the meantime, the Silver Stool Palace has been locked and the keys handed over to the Gyaasehene, Nana Boakye Yiadom Atonsa by the Mamponghemaa [Queenmother], Nana Agyakoma Difie II.

The queenmother will lead the Mampong Gyaase delegation to inspect and account for everything in the palace on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.

Who was Daasebre Osei Bonsu II?

Born on December 31, 1939, Daasebre Osei Bonsu II was known privately as Saint Oswald Gyimah-Kessie. He was an economist and a lawyer.

He served as a Registrar of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and retired in 1999.

He reigned as Mamponghene for over 28 years.

His mother was affectionately called Teacher Mary Gyimah (one of the pioneer women educationists in the Gold Coast and pre-independence era) of the Botaase Bretuo Royal Family of Asante-Mampong.

Daasebre Osei Bonsu was a product of Prempeh College and the University of Ghana, Legon.

He had a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Economics, Political Science and Modern History and held an L.L.B. (Hons) – Law.

Before Enstoolment

Before he was enstooled as Mamponghene, Daasebre started as an Assistant Registrar at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in 1972 and by dint of hard work rose through the ranks and was appointed as Registrar in 1991 till he retired in 1999.

Daasebre Osei Bonsu was enstooled on August 25, 1996 when he succeeded his uncle, Nana Atakora Amaniampong II, who had abdicated.

The ascension of Daasebre Osei Bonsu to the Amaniampong Stool brought finality to the protracted chieftaincy litigation which had spanned almost two decades.

The chieftaincy litigation brought about disaffection and intolerance among the people and eventually brought development to a halt.

Mamponghene having assumed the mantle of leadership of the Amaniampong Silver Stool essentially changed the face of chieftaincy in his traditional area.

Indeed, he brought some satisfactory level of innovation, dynamism, diligence and progress to the traditional area.

Daasebre’s accomplished and outstanding administrative prowess manifested in his role as Chief of Mampong and Asanteman which had contributed to a lot of transformation and development.

Daasebre Osei Bonsu singled-handedly sponsored a large number of brilliant, needy children in the Mampong area in some tertiary institutions and senior high schools.

Traditional position

Daasebre Osei Bonsu was a member and permanent Vice-President, Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs, Chairman of the Standing Committee, Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs, Chairman of the Standing Committee of Asanteman Council, a member of the National House of Chiefs, a member of the Standing Committee of the National House of Chiefs.

Family

Daasebre Osei Bonsu was married to Mrs Janet Dorothy Gyimah-Kessie, a devoted and God-fearing woman.

The couple has one daughter, Dr Naana Mary Gyimah-Kessie, a medical practitioner.