The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has issued a strong warning to chiefs across the Ashanti Kingdom, declaring that any chief found working with o
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has issued a strong warning to chiefs across the Ashanti Kingdom, declaring that any chief found working with or hiring land guards to enforce land claims will face immediate destoolment.
The monarch delivered the warning on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at the Manhyia Palace during a courtesy call by the newly appointed Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Arthur Osei Akoto.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II condemned the use of illegal armed groups, describing the practice as both unlawful and contrary to the traditions 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,” he declared.
He advised that all land disputes be resolved peacefully through established traditional or legal channels, urging chiefs to bring such matters before the Manhyia Palace for amicable settlement.
The Asantehene’s directive reinforces the provisions of Ghana’s Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036), which criminalizes the use of land guards and prescribes severe penalties—including imprisonment and fines—for anyone who employs violence or intimidation to control land.
By coupling traditional sanctions with state law, the Asantehene aims to curb land-related violence, safeguard public safety, and strengthen investor confidence in the Ashanti Region.