Bantamahene, Baffour Owusu Amankwaatia IV is expected to ransom the Manhyia Palace with a herd of forty-six (46) rams by close of the week or face further sanctions by the Asantehene, Otumfour Osei Tutu II, MyNews reports.
The revered chief, who is the Head of the Kronti Division of the Ashanti Kingdom, could be destooled if he fails to pay the ransom, sources in the Manhyia Palace have told this portal.
In all, he was required to pay a total of forty-eight (48) rams to the palace court if he was to redeem his stool and to purge himself of any desecrations brought upon him for reneging on his oath to the King and the Golden Stool; he however had to produce two (2) rams immediately after he was found guilty of trespassing lands belonging to the King and diverting the course of the Subin River for private gain last week.
This portal reported last week that, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II was infuriated by the action of the Bantamahene, Baffour Owusu Amankwaatia IV and had directed the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) immediately demolish the stores and the restore the course of the river.
The head of the Kronti Division of the Ashanti Kingdom was dragged before the King after a delegation of sub chiefs sent to the Race Course Market came back with confirmation that he had encroached parts of the land and also diverted the course of the Subin River for his private gain.
The Bantamahene was said to have forcefully taken over parts of the Race Course land for the construction of shops; he has also filled portions of the Subin River with sand and diverted its course, this portal reported last Wednesday.
When MyNews reporters visited the market a day after the King’s order, the city authority was earnestly pulling down all the structures illegally mounted by the Bantamahene.
It is customary in the Ashanti Kingdom to appease the traditional authority and ancestors with rams and several bottles of schnapps if a person is found guilty of anything that is contrary to cultural norms; in some instances, offenders may also be asked to part with amounts of money.
Checks by MyNews revealed that, a giant ram currently costs around GHC1,800 to GHC 2,500 depending on the size and breed; Ashanti customs demands that only the choicest rams are served upon the King.
