The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has issued a firm warning to all chiefs within the Ashanti Kingdom, stating emphatically that any chief who hires land guards to protect stool lands will be destooled without hesitation.
Addressing the newly appointed Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Arthur Osei Akoto, during a courtesy visit to the Manhyia Palace on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, the Asantehene described the practice as unlawful, dangerous, and completely foreign to Asanteman’s traditional values.
“I will destool any chief who engages the services of land guards. They have no such authority. When these lands were entrusted to them, I never instructed them to employ people to use guns and harm others,” Otumfuo cautioned.
He urged chiefs and individuals involved in land disputes to seek peaceful settlement through the Manhyia Palace instead of resorting to intimidation or violence.
“If you have any land dispute, bring it before me. We will resolve it amicably for peace to prevail,” he advised.
The Asantehene stressed that such illegal actions not only violate traditional authority but also threaten the peace and safety of communities across the region. His remarks echo the Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036), which criminalises the use of land guards and prescribes severe sanctions for anyone engaging in or supporting such acts.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II’s warning reinforces his long-standing commitment to promoting peaceful coexistence, rule of law, and disciplined traditional leadership across the Ashanti Kingdom.
