The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has admonished chiefs across Ghana to quit petitioning for alms from politicians since it deposits the significance of chieftaincy in a pole position and often disreputes the decency of the institution.

According to the King of Asante, Nananom are elements of counseling at which government officials must run to for the reason that they are the true custodians of the land, and exhibiting such characteristics will help define and promote the status of the National House of Chiefs across the country.

“The relevance of the National House of Chiefs and the chief institution, in general, will be judged by how chiefs themselves conducts the affairs to the benefit of their people and Ghana as a whole,” he explained.

“As fathers of this nation, it was after the introduction of the British system of governance that politics came. You are the fathers. Ask yourself why you are not recognized as such? It is because of our own doing. You troop to the politicians begging them of certain things, so we are divided in the front. We have to be united.

“Let them come to you for advice and direction, if you don’t do that and go for your petty benefits from them, you sell your heritage to the politicians and therefore, I'm stressing on this because chieftaincy as an institution has something to do for Ghana and if you don’t, the relevance of this will be questioned by the youth who don’t appreciate yesterday but today.

“Lot of people question the relevance of chieftaincy and this should be a sign of worry to all of us and the only reason why can curtail is putting ourselves in situations where we can be very relevant.

The Asantehene was present at the commissioning of the National House of Chiefs Building on Friday, September 14, 2020, in the capital of the Ashanti Region, Kumasi.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II who revealed his’ sentimental attachment’ to the building expressed delight in its renovation asserting that its facelift will help increase its membership to include leaders in the newly created regions of Ghana.

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He assured that no Asantehene is entitled to ownership of the property since it was donated by the Late Otumfuo Sir Osei Agyemang II to serve the Kumasi State and Asanteman Council to help preach and preserve peace in the region and the country as a whole.

“The building was constructed in 1949 by uncle, Otumfuo Sir Osei Agyemang II to serve the Kumasi state council and the Asanteman Council. It was designed and constructed under the supervision of my brother, the then Jacob Matthew Opoku, he was then the surveyor and later a lawyer who later ascended the Golden stool as Otumfuo Opoku Ware the II from 1970-1999,” he narrated.

"When the National House of Chiefs was created in 1969, there was the need for an office complex. My uncle, Otumfuo Sir Osei Agyeman donated the building to the house, and therefore I do not want to hear people saying that I’m going to take the property, not in my time or never in the time of any Asantehene.

“Fortunately the renovated facilities will enable the house to the increase in membership as a result of the house as a result of the creations of the new regions.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II charged members of the House to 'protect and project the chieftaincy institution, the best of our heritage, which is the essence of the chieftaincy institution.”

"The National House of Chiefs is the foremost institution of chieftaincy. It is very critical to the development of the chieftaincy institution in Ghana. It is therefore very imperative that the house is provided with the necessary resources to enable it to undertake its work and its activities," he ended.