Monarchical Historian with the Manhyia Palace and Museum, Teacher Sarfo Kantanka, has explained that in the absence of the Asantehemaa, the queen mothers of Kokofu and Kenyansi take charge until a new enstoolment.
Speaking to Adom News in an exclusive interview, he explained that the process of a successor of the queen mother differs from that of the king.
“In the queen mother replacement, it’s through a matrilineal process, with this the queen mother of Asante Mampong is from the Bretuo family, and Asantehemaa is from the Oyoko family. So, for the matrilineal channel, the right person to oversee are the queen mothers of Kokofu and Kwabre Kenyasi,” he said.
In the absence of the Asantehene, the paramount chiefs of Mampong, Offinso, Adansi, and Essumeja Bantama often take over, hence the perception that in the absence of Asantehemaa, the Mamponghemaa will take charge.
According to Teacher Kantanka, because Asante is a military state, all the paramount chiefs of Mampong, Adansi, Essumeja, Bantama, and Offinso are classified as military divisions in the Asante kingdom, and they are the right people to take charge in the absence of Asantehene.
The Asantehemaa, Nana Konadu Yiadom III, passed on at the age of 98. Her one week observance is scheduled for Thursday, August 21, 2025 at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.
