Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin on Monday, April 19, 2021, nullified the enstoolment process of a new chief at Teacher Mante in the Eastern Region.
The Teacher -Mante traditional stool has become vacant after the death and burial of the Chief -Nana Anim Mante three years ago. The late Chief who was a Journalist ruled for 13 years.
Two opposing factions both nominated candidates simultaneously to ascend the stool.
The candidates were Okofo Yaw Gyekye privately known as Titus Mante a Land Eng and Nana Kwame Asare Frimpong.
Nana Kwame Asare Frimpong was however enstooled as Chief by some few elders.
A petition was filed at Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council’s Judicial committee where Okyenhene instituted a fact-finding committee to investigate an allegation that the alleged enstooled Chief does not deserve to be Chief because he has already been enstooled as Guantoahene in Awuku Akuapem and Ankobeahene at Koforidua Adawso.
The fact-finding delegation report stated that Nana Kwame Asare Frimpong is married to a woman at Awukugua that the woman who is Asona was enstooled a result the husband was made Guantuahene but a protest by the youth made him abandoned the stool.
At Koforidua Adweso, the delegation said it was confirmed that he was made Baamuhene and subsequently elevated to Ankobeahene by the Chief of Adweso. That, his picture was at the palace.
Okyenhene asked Apedwahene if he was aware of this development before blessing him for enstoolment.
Apedwahene said he wasn’t aware that he was introduced as Odehye.
Okyenhene questioned further why Apedwahene did not do due diligence in investigating the case.
Apedwahene said the elders told him they have done the background checks that he deserved to be enstooled.
Delivering the ruling, Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin nullified the enstoolment process at Teacher Mante and ordered the elders of the two factions to come together and restart the nomination and enstoolment process and present a deserving Chief to him.
“I have nullified the entire processes and enstoolment. Go back and sit together to restart the entire process and present a deserving Chief to me”.Okyenhene said.
For the faction of Okofo Yaw Gyekye Mante, the ruling is a victory to their side.
“When Nana Anim Mante died, a week later, the Queen-mother also died, then the Amankrado also died, then again the Abrewatia in the family also died. So Gyaasehene was taking care of the community. We nominated a candidate-Okofo Yaw Gyekye Mante introduced him to Apedwahene. we were in the process of enstooling him all of a sudden we heard the other faction has enstooled a new Chief .so this ruling is a victory to us”. Nana Dademono Kofi Larbi, Gyasowahene and head of Larteh Kubease Ahimso family in Teacher Mante said.
But for Nana Kwame Asare Frimpong, he welcomed the ruling and said he withdrew from the Guantoahene stool at Awukua after the youth protested. Also, the Ankoabeahene stool given him at Adweso in Koforidua was a mere verbal appointment without any traditional ceremony, therefore, sees it as an improperly enstooled process.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
