History was made in Manhyia this week.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has destooled Nana Kwabena Nsia Ababio, the Kenyasi No.2 Manhene, a man widely recognized as the longest-reigning Paramount Chief in Ghana.
Enstooled in 1937.
He reigned for an extraordinary 89 years.
When he was enstooled, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II was not even born. Kwame Nkrumah was still a student. There was no Ghana. There was Gold Coast.
For 89 years, he sat on the stool. He saw war, he saw independence, he saw coups, he saw Asanteman grow. And now, in 2026, the Asantehene has said: Enough. Go home.
That is power of Asante custom. That is power of Otumfuo. No one is above the stool. No matter how long you have reigned, if you go against custom, you will be destooled.
And that is why many Asantes are now asking one painful question: If Otumfuo can destool an 89-year Paramount Chief, what is stopping him from dealing with those disgracing Asanteman with Daddy Lumba’s funeral issues?
DADDY LUMBA: FROM LEGEND TO DISGRACE
Since the passing of our legend Charles Kwadwo Fosu, Daddy Lumba, what Ghanaians have seen on social media, on radio, on TikTok, is not Asante culture. It is disgrace.
People fighting on live radio. Family members fighting about who is real wife. Abusua fighting about burial place. Widows and children been insulted. People who never knew Lumba claiming to be spokesperson, Social media Buzzed with insults.
Asantes are known for one thing: We bury our dead with dignity. When an Asante dies, even if there is confusion, elders sit behind closed doors, they resolve it, they come out with one voice. We don’t wash our dirty linen outside.
But in Daddy Lumba case, dirty linen has been washed, dried, and hanged on Facebook Live.
Young boys who call themselves “Team Lumba” insulting elderly. Women claiming to be wives respresentives granting interviews left and right. Money being collected in public, receipt not accounted for. Customary rites. being delayed because of fight over who owns the body.
This is not Asante. This is disgrace to Asante.
As one elder in Bantama told me: “If Lumba was a chief, Otumfuo would have destooled all of them by now.”
89 YEARS VS 89 DAYS
Let us compare.
Nana Kwabena Nsia Ababio reigned 89 YEARS. He helped build Asanteman. Yet when he went wrong, Otumfuo did not say “he is old, leave him.” Otumfuo did not say “he has reigned long, forgive him.” He destooled him. Because Asante custom is bigger than any man.
But those handling Daddy Lumba’s issues have reigned only 89 DAYS of confusion, yet they are still parading as family heads, as managers, as wives, as spokesmen, bringing Asante name into disrepute every day on radio.
If 89 years of service cannot save a chief from destoolment, why should 89 days of indiscipline save these people from being questioned?
OTUMFUO MUST ACT
This tells us one thing: Those involved in Daddy Lumba’s issues which is bringing disgrace to Asante must follow. The chiefs involved must be must be summoned to Manhyia. They must be questioned.
Because Daddy Lumba was not just a musician. He was Ohene of Highlife. He was Asante pride. He sang for Asanteman. He projected Asante to the world.
If his burial is handled without dignity, it is not just his family that is disgraced. It is Asanteman that is disgraced. It is Otumfuo’s Asanteman that is disgraced.
Otumfuo has shown this week that no stool is too old to be corrected. Kenyasi No.2 Manhene’s 89-year reign ended with a simple pronouncement from Manhyia.
Same must happen to those using Daddy Lumba’s dead body for fame, for money, for TikTok views.
In Asante, when there is confusion over funeral of a prominent Asante, Manhyia has the final say. Nananom must be invited, questioned, and if they are found to have disrespected custom, they must be sanctioned.
Otherwise, tomorrow any family can fight over any Asante legend’s body on social media and we will say “that is family matter.”
No. When you disgrace Asante custom and tradition in public, it ceases to be family matter. It becomes Asanteman matter.
LESSON
If a chief who was enstooled before Otumfuo was born can be destooled for going against tradition, then those who are disgracing tradition over Daddy Lumba’s funeral must know their days are numbered.
Asante custom does not respect long reign. It respects right doing.
And what we are seeing with Daddy Lumba is not right.
Man must be called to order.
Alexander Afriyie, supervising editor, ghanacrimereport.com and ghanatalk.com