Nana Ama Bonsu Chooses Stool Name Nana Yaa Akyaa II as 15th Asantehemaa
The newly enstooled Asantehemaa of the Asante Kingdom, Nana Ama Bonsu, has officially adopted Nana Yaa Akyaa II as her stool name following her historic selection by Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II on Monday, 6th July 2026.
The 80-year-old monarch becomes the 15th Asantehemaa* of the Asante Kingdom. She succeeds *Nana Konadu Yiadom III, who passed away on 7th August 2025 at the age of 98.
Nana Yaa Akyaa II is expected to be formally introduced to both the Kumasi Traditional Council and the Asanteman Traditional Council in the coming days.
The selection was finalized on Monday morning after the Asantehene summoned key traditional leaders to Manhyia Palace to conclude the customary processes.
The chosen stool name carries significant historical weight, drawing direct lineage to Nana Yaa Akyaa I, the prominent Queen Mother who was exiled to the Seychelles Islands alongside her son, Asantehene Prempeh I, where she later passed away.
Addressing public misconceptions about age requirements for the stool, *Manhyia Palace monarchical historian, Osei-Bonsu Sarfo-Kantanka, clarified in an exclusive interview with Kumasi FM’s Elisha Adarkwah that there is no customary rule mandating the selection of elderly women as Asantehemaa.
He revealed that younger royals including a 19-year-old in the past have historically ascended to the stool.
According to him, while younger royals can equally ascend, the current trend of choosing senior royals is an internal traditional arrangement born out of respect for the growing royal population, and not a rigid customary policy.
