The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has issued a firm warning to all chiefs in the Ashanti Kingdom: any chief caught collaborating with or employing land guards to enforce land claims will be immediately destooled.
The paramount ruler delivered the stern directive on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at the Manhyia Palace during a courtesy call from the newly appointed Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Arthur Osei Akoto.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II emphasised that reliance on illegal, armed groups violates state law and undermines the traditional governance system of Asanteman.
“I will destool any chief who engages the services of land guards. They know very well that they have no such authority. When those lands were entrusted to them upon their enstoolment, I never instructed them to hire land guards to protect them. I did not grant them the power to employ people to use guns and harm others,” the Asantehene cautioned.
He stressed that land disputes must be handled through peaceful, established channels and urged chiefs to bring disagreements before the Manhyia Palace for amicable resolution.
The warning aligns with Ghana’s Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036), which criminalises the use of land guards and imposes penalties, including imprisonment and fines, for those who employ force or intimidation to control land unlawfully. Chiefs already act as fiduciaries of stool lands and now face both state prosecution and immediate destoolment for violations.
The Asantehene’s firm stance reinforces efforts by both traditional and state authorities to curb land-related violence and restore public safety and investor confidence in the Ashanti Region.
Source: David Apinga
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