Asantehene criticizes political interference in traditional affairs, cites Sampa chieftaincy dispute
via GhanaWeb2 min read
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has criticized increasing political interference in traditional affairs, highlighting developments in Sampa in the Bono Region. Speaking at an Asanteman Council meeting on Monday, April 20, 2026, Otumfuo recounted an alleged incident involving the Bono Regional Minister, Joseph Addae Akwaboa, and residents of Sampa. He accused several government officials, including Mohammed Mubarak-Muntaka, Minister of Chieftaincy and Local Government Ahmed Ibrahim, the Bono Regional Minister, and the Regional Police Commander, of contributing to uncertainty surrounding the Sampa Traditional Council. The Asantehene stated that the Sampa chieftaincy matter had already been settled through established processes, with the chief having taken the oath, the matter having gone to court, and the chief being registered by the National House of Chiefs. However, he alleged that obstacles continue to prevent the recognized chief from exercising authority, claiming that a regional minister wrote that the chief's security could not be guaranteed when he attempted to go to the town. Otumfuo further alleged bias in law enforcement actions, stating that arrests made during the dispute targeted only one faction, and that the regional minister allegedly contacted a judge on a holiday to have those arrested remanded into custody. The Asantehene also expressed concern over a broader pattern of disregard for judicial decisions in traditional disputes in communities such as Nk
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