Nana Kwamena Bentumi II, the Chief of Salman in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region, has been customarily destooled by members of his royal family in a development that has sent ripples through the traditional and socio-political landscape of the community.
The destoolment rites were reportedly performed on Thursday by the legitimate stool family in accordance with established Nzema customary law, bringing to an abrupt and dramatic end a reign that has been marked by both notable community engagement and persistent controversy.
Sources within the community indicate that the decision followed a period of escalating tensions, with disagreements over local resource governance and developmental initiatives creating deep divisions between the traditional authority and sections of the populace.
A major flashpoint emerged in March 2026 when youth groups in Salman openly challenged the chief over the extraction of clay from abandoned mining pits. The initiative, initially conceived as a community-led venture aimed at generating revenue for local development projects, subsequently became a source of contention amid disputes surrounding its administration, transparency and implementation.
Nana Kwamena Bentumi II also became a central figure in public discourse concerning the operations of Adamus Resources Limited, a mining company with activities in the area. His defence of certain aspects of the company’s lease arrangements and local employment policies drew mixed reactions, earning support from some stakeholders while attracting criticism from others who questioned the management of the community’s natural resources.
The development has reignited discussions on traditional governance, accountability and the delicate balance between customary leadership and community interests within resource-rich localities.
Under the provisions of the Chieftaincy Act, 2008 (Act 759), stool families possess the customary authority to initiate destoolment proceedings. However, for such a decision to attain full legal and administrative effect within Ghana’s chieftaincy framework, it must be formally communicated to the relevant traditional authorities and duly recorded by the appropriate institutions.
In accordance with the prescribed process, the reported destoolment is expected to be referred to the Ellembelle Traditional Council and subsequently transmitted to the Western Regional House of Chiefs for validation and official recognition.
Until the requisite customary and statutory procedures have been completed and duly registered, Nana Kwamena Bentumi II remains the officially recognised occupant of the stool in state records.
As of the time of filing this report, attempts to obtain a response from Nana Kwamena Bentumi II had proved unsuccessful. Similarly, neither the Ellembelle Traditional Council nor the Ellembelle District Assembly had issued an official statement regarding the development.
