The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has issued a strict directive to the Bantamahene, Baffour Owusu Amankwatia VI, ordering him to return the Tano deity, Asare Bediako, to its rightful custodians within one week. The deity, which is considered sacred in the Adanwomase community, must be handed over to the Sumankwaahene by March 17, 2025.
This decision follows a March 13 meeting of the Kumasi Traditional Council, where the Bantamahene admitted that previous efforts, including police intervention, had failed to recover the deity.
Due to his inability to retrieve the stolen deity, the council fined Bantamahene eight rams, citing him for contempt for disregarding earlier orders.
An investigation by a traditional committee sought to determine the rightful owner of the Tano deity and the Adanwomase stool. The inquiry revealed three competing claims from:
- Maame Akua Kyem
- Opanyin Kwadwo Yadieya
- Opanyin Yaw Gyamfi
After reviewing historical records, family lineage, and testimonies from the Bantama Gyaasehene and Wawase traditional priest, the committee ruled in favor of Akua Kyem as the legitimate custodian of the deity.
However, the Bantamahene had supported Opanyin Yadieya’s family, arguing that the deity had descended from the heavens and was entrusted to his sister. This claim was challenged by historical Asante traditions, which found no record of Bantamahene having a sister. A second committee was formed to re-evaluate the findings, and it ultimately reaffirmed Akua Kyem’s claim.
This latest ruling is part of ongoing efforts to resolve the long-standing dispute over the deity’s rightful ownership. The Asantehene’s order serves as a final warning to Bantamahene, underscoring the importance of respecting traditional authority and ensuring the deity’s safe return to the Adanwomase community.
