There is renewed chieftaincy tension brewing in Okuapeman as rival chief Odehye Kwasi Akuffo carried himself as Okuapehene at a funeral held over the weekend.
Odehye Kwasi Akuffo who was unsuccessful when contested then vacant Ofori Kuma stool, on Saturday August 12, 2023 adorned with royal attire and regalia amid singing and drumming attended funeral of late Odehye Gladys Abena Otema Ohene, and paraded as Okuapehene.
Videos in circulation at Akropong that captured some of the moments heard his followers chanting appellations signifying he is legitimate Okuapehene.
This has created seething anger and tension among key stakeholders including Akuapem traditional council . Some of the youth are similar threatening mayhem should authorities fail to act.
Whiles Okuapehene Oseadeyo Kwasi Akuffo III has referred the incident to the appropriate authorities to handle, his legal team is also considering contempt application against Odehye Kwasi Akuffo.
Meanwhile ,Police in Akropong has intensified patrols and surveillance to maintain law and order.
Municipal Security Council (MUSEC) is expected to meet on the rising tension today Tuesday
Background of Akropong chieftaincy dispute .
Three Royal Houses namely: Nketia House, Ama Ogyaa House, and Sakyiabea House ascend the Ofori Kuma stool in Akropong and that has been codified under the declaration of the customary law (Akuapem State) order, 1960, L.I. 32.
The L.I. further provides that these three houses ascend on a rotational basis and when it is a house’s turn, it is that house that nominates.
After the demise of late Okuapehene Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa III in 2015 after reigning for 35 years- the longest reigning period since the formation of the Akuapem State, Lilly Agyemang Abrewatia of Sakyiabea royal house whose turn is to nominate a candidate ,settled on Odehye Kwadwo Kesse Antwi ( the current Okuapehene) and presented him to the Asonahene to be given to the Queenmother to present to the Kingmakers.
Surprisingly, the Queenmother Nana Obuo Nketiaa II added another name Odehye Kwasi Akuffo who is the nephew of Odehye Kwadwo Kesse Antwi creating confusion which stalled the process even though eight(8) out of the eleven(11) Kingmakers backed Odehye Kwadwo Kesse Antwi.
The two candidates were all separately enstooled by the two factions deepening dispute on the enstoolment process.
This compelled the Abrewatia Lilly Agyemang to initiate a suit at the judicial committee of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs in 2019 to set the record straight that pursuant to L.I. 32 and the customs of Okuapeman, it is not the preserve of the Queenmother to solely nominate the Okuapehene which the Judicial committee upheld and entered a judgement in her favour on April 30,2020, and restrained Odehye Kwasi Akuffo from carrying himself as the chief of Okuapeman.
On May 1, 2020 Odehye Kwadwo Kesse Antwi was presented to the Kingmakers and all due processes were followed for his enstoolment as Okuapehene as the consequential orders of the judicial committee of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs directed.
On May 3, 2020 Odehye Kwadwo Kesse Antwi was sworn-in with the stool name His Royal Majesty Oseadeeyo Kwasi Akuffo III to become the 26th occupant of the Ofori Kuma stool.
All five divisional chiefs also swore an oath of allegiance to the Okuapehene same day.
However, dissatisfied with the judgment of the Eastern regional house of chiefs and subsequent events thereafter, the Queenmother Nana Obuo Nketiaa II and three others appealed against the judgment at the Judicial Committee of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs at the National House of Chiefs.
On 29th September, 2022, when the judicial committee of the National House of Chiefs sat, it Ominously dismissed the appeal filed by the Queenmother and her 3 other associates and affirmed the judgment of the Judicial Committee of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs.
The judicial committee also fined the appellants.
Okuapehene Oseadeyo Kwasi Akuffo III was subsequently on October 5,2022 gazetted by the National House of Chiefs.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
