Introduction

Nana Yaa Asantewaa II is the current Queen Mother of the Ejisu Traditional Area in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. She holds an important traditional and cultural role, modeled partly on the legacy of her illustrious predecessor, the famed Yaa Asantewaa I (who led the War of the Golden Stool). Nana Yaa Asantewaa II has used her position to champion development, women’s empowerment, peace, culture, and social cohesion in her area.

Early Life and Background

• She was born as Nana Akua Boatemaa into the Asona royal family of Ejisu, which is one of the royal lineages of the Ashanti Kingdom.

• Her parents are Opanyini Atwima Boateng and Obaapanin Maame Abena Serena (late).

• (There is no widely published information about her birth date, childhood education, or early personal life in the sources consulted so far.)

Enstoolment (Ascension) and Traditional Role

• She was enstooled (installed) as Queen Mother of Ejisu during the reign of Nana Aboagye Agyei II (now late) as Ejisuhene.

• Her stool name reflects strong continuity with the memory of Yaa Asantewaa, which carries symbolic weight/expectations in the Ejisu Traditional Council and among the people. Explore Kumasi+2ejima.gov.gh+2

Tenure & Achievements

Nana Yaa Asantewaa II has served many years in office and has initiated various programs and traditional functions. Key achievements and areas of work include:

• Education & Skills Training: She established a vocational school (or technical/vocational centre) to provide free vocational training for the girl child, enabling them to acquire skills of their choice. ejima.gov.gh+1

• Women and Girls’ Welfare:

  • She is the life patron of the “Virgins Club Society, Ejisu,” a non‑governmental organization focused on preserving culture and tradition among young women in her area, and promoting dignity and integrity up to marriage. ejima.gov.gh

  • She has mobilized tomato traders (women engaged in tomato business) within her catchment area under a unified body to support cooperation, business growth, and mutual support.

• Peace, Unity and Stability: Under her leadership, there has been noted progress in maintaining peace and unity within Ejisu, improving relations among traditional authorities, and working to reduce internal conflicts.

• Infrastructure & Local Development: She has been involved (or overseen) infrastructural improvements: although specific projects are not exhaustively listed in the sources, the general statement is that infrastructural bottlenecks have seen steady progress under her reign.

Personal & Family Life

• She is married to Nana Agyenim Boateng, who is Tunsuomhene of Mampong Traditional Area.

• Her family background (parents, royal lineage) links her to the Asona clan in Ejisu.

Legacy & Significance

• Symbolic Continuity: By taking the stool name "Yaa Asantewaa II", she ties her role to the memory of Yaa Asantewaa I, reinforcing cultural identity and collective memory in Ejisu and more broadly in Asante.

• Advocate for Women & Girls: Her work in education, vocational training, cultural practices, and supporting women's business and social welfare positions her as an influential female leader with contemporary relevance.

• Community Mobilization: Her leadership has fostered unity among local traders, youth, and women; she works through both traditional authority and development partnerships to push for progress in her traditional area.

• Cultural Preservation: She plays a role in preserving tradition, custom, and culture—both through formal traditional mechanisms and by supporting festivals, ceremonies, and traditional governance structures.

• Role within Traditional Governance: As Queen Mother, she holds substantial customary powers: in the Akan/Ashanti matrilineal system, the Queen Mother is a guardian of traditions, adviser to chiefs, and often influences selection of chiefs and other local rulers. Though I did not find sources giving the full set of her traditional constitutional roles, this is part of the accepted framework in Ashanti chieftaincy. (This reflects general customary practice rather than biographical specifics unique to her.)

Challenges & Ongoing Issues

• Some of her development initiatives face resource constraints (as is common in many traditional areas). The challenge of maintaining infrastructure, education quality, and ensuring women's welfare are present. (While not always detailed in sources, they are implied in discussions of what remains to be done.)

• Balancing tradition and modernization: ensuring that the role of Queen Mother remains relevant, especially for younger generations, and that development does not come at the cost of eroding cultural values.

Conclusion

Nana Yaa Asantewaa II of Ejisu is a modern-day custodian of tradition, combining cultural, social, educational, and economic leadership. Though her predecessor (Yaa Asantewaa I) belongs to history and legend, Nana Yaa Asantewaa II’s living legacy shows how traditional leadership can contribute meaningfully to local development, women’s empowerment, and community unity. Her reign demonstrates that the past need not be romanticized only, but also offers models for present‑day leadership.