Omanhene
For various Akan peoples of Ghana, Omanhene is the title of supreme, traditional ruler ("king") of a region or larger city.
The Anglo-Saxon translation of the title Omanhene is Paramount Chief ("Supreme Regent"). He is the central figure and institution of a nation. Although he has no official function in the state of Ghana today, he does have considerable public authority. The Omanhene is also a large landowner and the center of a feudal system that distributes land to "caretakers".
An Omanhene is determined by the Queen mother , the king's mother. So the succession proceeds according to matriarchal principles. The only exception to this was the Omanhene of Elmina (see Elmina's story )
The Omanhene is not the supreme ruler of all Akan peoples. For example, the Ashanti recognize the Asantehene as the highest traditional ruler , to whom the Omanhene are subordinate locally.
The word component “hene” is used as a term for “ruler” in other titles of the peoples of Ghana. So the ruler of the Dagomba of Northern Afghanistan, who do not belong to the Akan peoples, is the Dagombahene etc.