MAMPONHENE IS HEAD OF NIFA F3KUO. Some historians and Asante traditional leaders are of the firm believe that Mamponhene is the Kontirehene for Asanteman (the confederacy) whiles Bantamahene serves as Kumaseman Kontirehene. According to them This was part of the arrangement when the Stool became Awiseahene. It is the second after the Asantehene stool. Just recently when Bantamahene was swearing his Oath at the Manhyia Palace the Mamponhene reiterated his position and sort of reminded the Bantamahene that he(Mampon) is the Asanteman Kontihene.
These assertions have been a matter of confusion and disagreement oftentimes in Asante history and tradition.
Militarily Mampon became the Kontihene of Asanteman through Boahene Anantuo. Mampong provides troops for the Konti Fekuo. Don't forget the original word is Ɛkoo Nti because of war.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu I, told the Mamponhene while investing him with the Silver Stool: 'Mekura ne ti (ie. Asante), wo nso kuta ne ngyaa. 'I hold the head, you hold the legs' obviously for the holding up Asante.
Other scholars and leaders also hold the position that, Asanteman does not have a KONTIHENE position nor a Kontihene title for any Chief in the constituent ASANTEMAN set up.
Nana Mamponhene, who to them, is wrongly assumed as Asanteman Kontihene, is rather, Asantemanhene SAHENE or Commanding General of Asante Army at war.
Of course, Otumfuo is our Chief Commander.... by fact, and by law (de facto, and de jure).
Daasebre Osei Bonsu, Mamponhene, during the swearing-in ceremony of Baafuo Bantamahene, unequivocally said,
"me ne Asanteman (Otumfuo) Sahene."
He is right. He is not EKON NTI HENE. He was already MAMPONHENE when he served in the role of OSAHENE in 1700-1701. He already had his Stool.
Kwame Amankwatia was AKOA who had no Stool.... he was a Stool carrier for Beema Osei Tutu. He was assigned battle duty, he fought to save his own head.
So, a Stool was created for him 'because he was victorious in war'.... EKO NTI.
The Stool Carrier became OBREMPON...., KONTIHENE, and by extension OSAHENE for Otumfuo Kumase.
All Amanhene are also considered Generals.
When Asanteman is in the field of battle, Nana Mamponhene is the Commanding General. Other Amanhene as Generals command individual wings, and are responsive to the Osahene... Mamponhene.... who also heads. Asanteman NIFA.
He commands Asanteman forces. That title and role was bestowed on Mamponhene, after Boahen Anantuo agreed to lead Asante coalition fighters against Ntim Gyakari and Dankyira in 1700.
Boahen Anantuo led the forces, with the full knowledge that he was set up as (serving as) a sacrificial lamb, to ensure Asante victory over Dankyira, as prophesied by OkomfoAnokye.
His gun was empty, and he was defenceless.
By that selfless act, Boahen Anantuo and his ancestral Mampon Stool was bestowed SAFOHENE of Asanteman.
Also, he was given the Silver Stool as the second administrative position in Asante... behind Sikadwa and Otumfuo Asantehene.
Nana Mamponhene acts as Asantehene in the absence of Asantehene from Asanteman. In that role, he is, in a contemporary set up, the vice president of Asanteman.
In the event of the passing of an Asantehene, Nana Mamponhene is automatically the acting Asantehene.
In the role of acting Asantehene, Nana Mamponhene also serves as the ad hoc AWISIAHENE of Asante. That is to say, he temporarily tasked with consoling all Asanteman over the death of our benefactor..... the Otumfuo Asantehene.
So, we have an administrative and military division or FEKUO in Kumase called KONTI.... Otumfuo Bantama Konti, ATUO NSON, sometimes wrongly called Kronti or Kontire.
All the seven men who lead KONTI (the original seven) were commoners. They had no Stools. Their Stools were created for them by Osei Tutu because of exemplary service to him, and of specific importance, in fighting, defeating and killing, KYEREME SIKAFUO, Chief of Domaa Suntreso, thereby avenging the death of Kwaanhene Obiri Yeboa, Osei Tutu’s uncle.
ASANTEMAN, as a unitary nation, however, does NOT have KONTI FEKUO. And does not have Kontihene.
Let's also NOTE, that any Chief to whom
"Otumfuo Asantehene kyekyere sa, ma no ko eko"....
.... is then described as Otumfuo SAHENE.
Thus, when Gyasehene Opoku Frefre was tasked with the KREPI CAMPAIGN or KREPI WAR of 1869, he was for that time, additionally known as Otumfuo Sahene.
This additional duty conferred by Otumfuo explains why NHENKWAA like to boast of their Chiefs as Otumfuo SAHENE paa no nie. They are right also. Any Chief who fights for Asanteman is literally speaking Otumfuo Sahene.
But, by tradition, custom, and Asante law, there are TWO consecrated (by Otumfuo) SAHENE in Asante: Daasebre Osei Bonsu.... for ASANTEMAN.... from the year 1700. And, Baafuo Bantamahene.... for Kumase..... from about the1690s.
In truth however, every Santenii is Osanii..... After all we joined together, we united, because we wished to fight for our freedom and cherished ideals.
OSA NTI NA NANANOM KA BOOMU.... OSANTNII, ASANTEFUO.
And we are still fighting, but in a different field, though same goals.... the upliftment of SIKADWA, OTUMFUO ASANTEHENE, and ASANTEMAN..... Our Trinity for a better Ghana.
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