‘If you don’t know, you don’t know’ – How NPP MP jabbed Ashanti Regional Minister-designate over Ashantis paramountcies

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Okaikwei Central, Patrick Yaw Boamah, on January 27, 2025, during the vetting of the Ashanti Regional Minister designate by the Appointments Committee of Parliament, caught him off guard with a question about paramountcies in the Ashanti region.

Boamah inquired from Dr. Frank Amoakohene about the number of paramountcies in the region most especially under the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

“Mr. Chairman, congratulations to my brother. I will ask you a few questions. How many paramountcies do we have in Ashanti? Paramountcies and divisions, since you are in a nice cloth from Ashanti and you have spoken so well. How many paramountcies do we have in the great kingdom under His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II?” he asked.

However, Dr. Frank Amoakohene tried to answer the question by mentioning only three of them and got stuck amid laughter.

“Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I will not know the numbers off head, but I know of the Mampong Traditional Council, Offinso, Kumawu…,” he said amid laughter.

Boamah, on the other hand, came in and told him bluntly that the question is not one of those that he can guess but rather if he doesn’t know, that is it.

He provided the answer and advised him to get the right information to help him in his dealings with Otumfuo during Akwasidae.

“If you don’t know, you don’t know. This is not about being… We have about 66 paramountcies and 12 divisions in Ashanti. You should know because you will be a frequent visitor at Manhyia during Adae. You should know where they sit and how to go about your duties.”