The newly enstooled Asantehemaa of the Asante Kingdom, Nana Ama Bonsu, has officially chosen Nana Yaa Akyaa II as her stool name following her historic selection by Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II on Monday, 6th July 2026.
The 80-year-old monarch becomes the 15th Asantehemaa of the Asante Kingdom.
She succeeds Nana Konadu Yiadom III, who passed away on 7th August 2025, at the age of 98.
Nana Yaa Akyaa II is expected to be formally introduced to both the Kumasi Traditional Council and the Asanteman Traditional Council in the coming days.
The selection followed strict customary procedures on Monday morning when the Asantehene summoned key traditional leaders to the Manhyia Palace to finalise the appointment.
The chosen stool name carries significant historical weight, drawing a direct lineage to Nana Yaa Akyaa I.
The prominent historical figure was exiled to the Seychelles Islands alongside her son, Asantehene Prempeh I, where she subsequently passed away.
Speaking on the age of the newly appointed Asantehemaa, Manhyia Palace monarchical historian, Osei-Bonsu Sarfo-Kantanka, dispelled public misconceptions regarding age requirements for the stool.
In an exclusive interview with Kumasi FM’s Elisha Adarkwah, Sarfo-Kantanka clarified that there is no customary rule mandating the selection of elderly women as Asantehemaa.
He revealed that younger royals—including a 19-year-old in the past—have historically ascended to the stool.
He explained that if the elderly desire to serve as Queen, they are granted the opportunity unless they choose to pass it on to the next generation.
Safo-Kantanka emphasised that while younger royals can equally ascend the stool, the current trend of choosing senior royals is purely an internal traditional arrangement out of respect for the growing royal population, rather than a rigid customary policy.
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