Asante Mamponghene to be buried with human head – Obrafour reveals

A traditional executioner from Asante Mampong has declared that a human head must accompany the late Mamponghene, Daasebre Osei Bonsu II, to the afterlife as part of burial customs.

In a video shared on X (formerly Twitter), the executioner issued a warning to both residents and visitors, urging them to be cautious during the funeral period.

“What we want the public to know is that anyone coming to Asante Mampong should understand that we are mourning our overlord. If Daasebre is to journey to join the ancestors tomorrow, then everyone must be very careful. Our King, the Asantehene, will be present, and we will follow his command. If he says we should cut, we will cut. If he says we shouldn’t, we won’t. So tomorrow, a head will be buried with our chief,” he said.

The final funeral rites, known as Dote Yie, for the late Mamponghene began on Saturday, June 7, 2025, and ended on Monday, June 9, 2025.

The first two days saw top political figures and traditional leaders from across Ghana coming to pay their respects. Among them was former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, is expected to attend the final day of the Dote Yie to honour the late Mamponghene, who was his second-in-command.

President John Dramani Mahama also attended the ceremony on Monday to pay his respects.

Daasebre Osei Bonsu II, born on December 31, 1939, died at age 86 after serving as Mamponghene for 26 years.

Before becoming a chief, he was known as Saint Oswald Gyimah-Kessie. He was a lawyer and economist and served as Registrar of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

He is remembered for his wisdom, diplomacy, and commitment to traditional leadership and national development.