Why the Akan States must take another look at its lineage system – The Otumfuor lineage example

Unfortunately, he cannot take the place of his father as the next Asantehene or ever qualify as one?

This is due to the matrilineal inheritance system within the Akan State. This system allows only sons born from daughters in the royal bloodline to qualify as Chiefs of the land.

In this regard, sons of sisters of the Otumfour will qualify as heirs apparent to the golden stool.

Unfortunately, the two sisters of the Otumfour did not give birth to sons. What this means is that rulership will leave The Otumfour’s bloodline forever; he is the last of the breed.

The matrilineal system of inheritance, among other things, existed to ensure that true blood sits on the throne. There is no guarantee that a man’s son is his own, but we can be sure that the woman’s child is hers. Without technology to determine paternity at the time, this system of inheritance protected the family line.

Today, with DNA being almost 100% reliable, I believe Akan States have to take another look at this system.

No child should be denied their right to take over from their father now because technology provides a solution to the doubts. Sons of fathers in Alan have suffered in the past, it forced wives to seek their path because if they happened to have useless brothers, their children are doomed. I have no data, but with observation, you’d realize that divorce rates are higher amongst Akans. Asante women, for instance, had to labor to secure the future of their children because most were likely to get so little from their fathers. By doing so, the marriage also suffered because the existing structure was that the woman had to help the man.

After the woman and the man have worked together, the wealth is vested in the bosom of the man. When he dies, the family takes over and passes them on to the nephews and nieces. The women had to adapt, make their own money. The Asante woman was the first empowered woman in Ghana, and they remain the most industrious even now because they were forced to labor early by this system.

Imagine having a rich father and being disqualified from inheriting his wealth because traditionally, your father’s nephews and nieces are more qualified.

This, in a way, contributed to the near-collapse of the extended family system because people started looking inward to prevent their children from losing out. Wives started shutting the door at their husband’s family to reduce access. You can’t claim what you don’t know.

I have no data on this, but if you consider tribes that practice the patrilineal system of inheritance, there is a greater connection to the extended family system than Akans. It is worse in Fanti land; when you have a rich family member and you are a Fanti, you are poor until you make your own money. On the contrary, look at Northern Ghana, Volta as an example, they are more connected to home, they are more connected to family.

Asantes used to hold that religiously; it contributed to the spread of wealth across the family. Today, that is changing, everyone is prioritizing their sons and daughters.

The wofaase entitlement has lost its legitimacy.

Maybe the traditional authorities can take another look at it too because they remain the only institution that holds on to it.

If we say culture is dynamic, then it must be responsive to the changing times.

Otumfour has some fine boys with the right personality to qualify for this someday, but the tradition says, NO.

With this, we cut off over 50% of qualified quality human resources.

It used to be ok in the past, it is no longer relevant now with means of verification and authentication of bloodline.

In my hometown, the chieftaincy was vacant for years, the other 2 families had no boys, our family had boys but none wanted it. Meanwhile, the men had sons qualified to inherit this.

Some tribes did negotiate, “it’s our turn, but we have no son so take over, when we have a son, we can have it”. Years after, then confusion. This has been the history behind several chieftancy disputes. These families had boys, but not daughters of the blood line and so they were deemed to be not family enough.

Scientifically, the father can lay more claim to the child than even the mother, we carry both chromosomes, traditionally, if you are an Akan, your father is not your family like that.

It’s ridiculous.