The Asante people developed a complex administrative, legal and a symbolic structure to support their civil society. Thus, the Asantehene who is the paramount King of the Asante people of Ghana is sometimes referred to as “He who sits on the Sika’dwa,” meaning the occupier of the Golden Stool. It is never sat on, but the Asantehene is the one who protects it, keeps it secure and maintains it.

As the object that characterises the unity and courage of the people, deriving from one of it’s most legendary meetings of its most important prophet Okomfo Anokye and the first Asantehene, the Golden Stool, which was commanded to come down from the sky by Anokye, is the soul of the Asante, thus the Asantehene must always pledge allegiance to the Sika’dwa. Nothing is more important to the Asante people than the Golden Stool.

Consequently, during the national celebration of the Golden Stool, when the people come out to express their solidarity with truth, freedom and vitality of spirit, and fertility of their seeds, human and physical, they proclaim at the great Odwira Festival all that the stool has meant to them. When a new King is required, the Asantehemaa or Queen Mother then chooses the person for the role, and he is then selected by the council of elders and with their permission, becomes the Asantehene.

In the meantime, between the death of the King and the appointment of the King, the Mamponghene, the King of Mampong, the second most important ruler of the nation, serves as the regent Asantehene. The Asante people take the leadership seriously and therefore have several forbidden activities for the Asantehene: no one can be King who is impotent, infertile, a gambler, deaf, a criminal, or leprous. The idea is that the King reflects the best ideals of the people’s vitality, beauty and power.