Asantehene bans use of academic titles in addition to chiefstaincy titles in Asanteman

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has banned the use of academic titles by chiefs in his domain.
He said the practice, which have some chiefs with stool names like “Nana Dr, and Nana Professor” was against the custom and tradition of Asanteman and could therefore not be entertained any longer.
At a meeting of the Asanteman Council at the Manhyia Palace on Monday, the Asantehene tasked the standing committee of the Asanteman Council, which include paramount chiefs like the Mamponghene from the Ashanti Region and the Nkoranzahene from the Brong Ahafo Region, to work out the details of the decision to serve as a guide for the future.
The decision covers all chiefs within the Ashanti region, as well as those in the Brong Ahafo region and the Volta region who owe allegiance to the golden stool.
Otumfuo noted that the use of “big titles” did not make one a good chief and said, the time had had come for Nananom to make the stools they occupied looked traditional.
He also spoke against the wearing of suits by chiefs when attending important functions where they were expected to showcase their status as chiefs.
The Asantehene asked queens to desist from “selling” stools to unqualified people, stressing this had the tendency to bring about chieftaincy disputes. While advising the queens, Otumfuo also warned people who want to buy their way through to occupy stools, saying they should know that they would be exposed one day.
He said the world had changed and any chief, who was unable to lead his people to fight poverty, disease and ignorance, which were enemies of development, could not claim to worth his position.
The Asantehene said he had persistently drummed home the fact that chiefs who engaged in indiscriminate sale of lands would be doing his people a great disservice and noted that posterity would not forgive such chiefs.
He challenged Nananom to let truth be their guide so that they would win the trust of their people.
The Asantehene asked chiefs who owe allegiance to the golden stool to have time for activities at Manhyia.
“You swore an oath to serve the golden stool come rain or shine, and you cannot turn against this pledge”, he said.
Otumfuo announced that the Kabaka of Uganda, one of the respected kings on the continent would be celebrating Akwasidae with him at the Manhyia palace on Sunday.