The Asante Mampong Traditional Area is in mourning following the death of its Paramount Chief, Daasebre Osei Bonsu II, renowned for steering the kingdom through nearly three decades of unmatched peace and development.
Last week, after a short illness, Daasebre joined the ancestors, leaving behind a remarkable legacy. His passing was formally communicated to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and the Asantehemaa through solemn traditional rites conducted by the Bretuo family and the Asante Mampong Traditional Council. Dressed in mourning black, traditional leaders and royals gathered to fulfill the sacred duty of officially announcing the chief’s transition.
Born Saint Oswald Gyimah-Kessie on December 31, 1939, Daasebre’s life was marked by service and distinction. An alumnus of Prempeh College and the University of Ghana, Legon, he built a professional career as a lawyer and Registrar of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) before his enstoolment as Mamponghene on August 25, 1996. He succeeded his uncle, Nana Atakora Amaniampong II, who abdicated.
Throughout his 26-year reign, Daasebre Osei Bonsu II distinguished himself as a builder of peace, overseeing an era without a single chieftaincy dispute — an unprecedented feat in Mampong’s modern history. His leadership not only maintained stability but also spurred significant development across the traditional area.
Joining the official mourning delegation were prominent figures such as the Queenmother of the Mampong Traditional Area, Nana Agyakoma Difie, and the Queenmother of Ejisu, Yaa Asantewaa II, underscoring the weight of the loss.
As preparations begin for traditional funeral rites, Mampong and the entire Asanteman reflect on the enduring legacy of a chief whose reign symbolized unity, wisdom, and progress.
