The newly enstooled Asantehemaa of the Asante Kingdom, Nana Ama Bonsu, has officially adopted the stool name Nana Yaa Akyaa II following her selection as the new Queen Mother of Asanteman.
The 80-year-old monarch was chosen by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, on Monday, July 6, 2026, becoming the 15th Asantehemaa of the Asante Kingdom.
She succeeds Nana Konadu Yiadom III, who passed away on August 7, 2025, at the age of 98 after serving as Queen Mother for several decades.
Nana Yaa Akyaa II is expected to be formally introduced to the Kumasi Traditional Council and the Asanteman Traditional Council in the coming days as part of the customary processes marking her ascension to the stool.
Her selection followed established customary procedures at the Manhyia Palace, where the Asantehene convened key traditional leaders to finalise the appointment.
The stool name Nana Yaa Akyaa II carries significant historical importance within the Asante Kingdom, tracing its lineage to Nana Yaa Akyaa I, who was exiled to the Seychelles alongside her son, Prempeh I, during the colonial era and later died in exile.
Meanwhile, monarchical historian at Manhyia Palace, Osei-Bonsu Sarfo-Kantanka, has clarified that there is no customary requirement for only elderly women to be selected as Asantehemaa.
Speaking in an interview, he explained that younger royals, including a 19-year-old in the past, have ascended the stool, but current practice tends to favour senior royals due to respect for age and internal arrangements within the royal family.
According to him, elderly royals who express interest in serving as Queen Mother are often given priority unless they voluntarily cede the opportunity to younger generations.
He stressed that younger royals remain eligible for selection and noted that the current preference for older candidates is a matter of tradition and family consensus rather than a binding customary rule
