Asantehene issues ultimatum for Bantamahene to retrieve stolen deity

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, has directed the Bantamahene, Baffour Asare Owusu Amankwatia VI, to recover and return the stolen Asare Bediako deity to the Asanteman Sumankwaahene within one week.

The deity’s shrine, one of the sacred places of Adanwomase in the Kwabre East Municipality, was ransacked and relics possessed by the deity were stolen from its place of worship by a rival faction vying for control over it.

When the issue was initially brought before the court of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu instructed the Bantamahene to work with local chiefs and community members to find the deity and return it to the Sumankwaahene.

However, during the Kumasi Traditional Council meeting on March 13, 2025, the Bantamahene reported that efforts to recover the deity had been unsuccessful, despite thorough searches and assistance from authorities.

This failure led to the Asantehene and the chiefs expressing dissatisfaction, as the Bantamahene had neglected his responsibilities.

The Bantamahene was subsequently found in contempt of court and penalised.

He was instructed to slaughter eight rams as punishment.

The Asantehene further made it clear that before presenting his report on Monday, the Bantamahene must retrieve the deity and return it to the Sumankwaahene.

The Kumasi Traditional Council is currently reviewing a report investigating the competing claims of ownership over the Asare Bediako deity.

Three factions, led by Madam Akua Kyem, Opanyin Kwadwo Yadieya, and Opanyin Yaw Gyamfi, have all staked claims to the deity.

Madam Akua Kyem, whose ancestors belong to the Aduana clan, asserts that her forebears brought the deity from Denkyira to Asante and that it had mystical powers that helped many people, including curing the sick.

Her account was corroborated by historical testimony from Bantama Gyaasehene and the Wawase traditional priest.

The committee’s findings ruled in favour of Madam Akua Kyem, establishing her family as the rightful custodians of the deity.

Despite this, the Bantamahene continued to assert that the deity belonged to Opanyin Kwadwo Yadieya’s family, a claim that the Asantehene and the council rejected, given the conflicting evidence.

The Asantehene had earlier set up a committee that supported the same findings, and a second committee is currently reassessing the case.