In a solemn exercise of traditional authority, Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has destooled his royal linguist, Okyeame Kofi Nti, following a formal sitting of the Asanteman Council at Manhyia Palace on Monday, April 20, 2026.
The removal — announced publicly after the Council’s deliberations — marked one of the most consequential disciplinary actions taken within the inner circle of the Asante royal court in recent memory, and sent a clear signal about the standard of conduct Otumfuo expects from those entrusted with the most sacred responsibilities of his court.
The role of Okyeame — royal linguist and spokesperson — is among the most revered in Asante traditional governance. The linguist serves as the voice of the king, a custodian of protocol, and a guardian of sacred processes, including the administration and handling of the Otumfuo Ntam Kɛseɛ, the Great Oath of the Asantehene.
The Ntam Kɛseɛ is the highest and most solemn oath in Asanteman — a sacred mechanism historically deployed to uphold truth, justice, and order in matters of chieftaincy and leadership. Its invocation is bound by strict customary rules, and the responsibility of managing it falls squarely on the Okyeame.
To mishandle it is not merely a procedural failing — it strikes at the very foundations of Asante traditional law.
The Charges:
Several serious allegations were presented before the Asanteman Council, forming the basis of the destoolment. Chief among them were concerns surrounding Okyeame Kofi Nti’s royal lineage — specifically, questions about whether his background was consistent with the requirements of the position, including reported difficulties in properly invoking the Ntam Kɛseɛ himself, a foundational expectation for any holder of the role.
Equally grave were charges relating to the improper handling of the Great Oath. He was accused of hoarding multiple invocations of the Ntam Kɛseɛ — accumulating them beyond what customary practice permits and in a manner inconsistent with the conduct of previous occupants of the position.
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The Council also found that he had neglected his core duty to adequately report and manage invocations of the sacred oath, a lapse regarded as a fundamental breach of the trust placed in him.
Further charges were brought forward by the Ayaasehene, relating to allegations of wrongful enstoolment involving the Ayaase Dikro — adding another dimension to the case against him.
The destoolment is consistent with a pattern of governance that has defined Otumfuo Osei Tutu II’s reign. Over the course of his time on the Golden Stool, the Asantehene has not hesitated to act decisively against chiefs, aides, and officials found to have fallen short of the standards demanded by Asante custom — particularly where the Ntam Kɛseɛ is concerned.
Previous cases of oath mishandling have similarly resulted in destoolments, underscoring the seriousness with which Manhyia treats the integrity of its most sacred institutions.
In removing Okyeame Kofi Nti from his position, Otumfuo has once again reaffirmed that proximity to the throne is not a shield from accountability — but rather a heightened obligation to uphold it.