The embattled Benkumhene of Asamang Tamfoe Traditional Area in the Eastern region Nana Boakye Darkwa says he is still the Benkumhene of the area challenging the capacity of Okyenhene for his alleged destoolment.
According to him, Okyenhene cannot destool him on frivolous allegations that he is engaged in illegal mining.
“I am still the de-factor Benkumhene of Asamang Tamfoe and still stand by the contents of the press conference the Okyenhene referenced instead of his agenda for the day which he prosecuted”. He said when addressing the media Wednesday, November 30, 2022.
Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin on November 21, 2022, ordered the destoolment of Benkumhene of Asamang Tamfoe Nana Boakye Darkwa over illegal mining.
This was after some residents in the community calling itself Concerned Citizens of Asamang Tamfoe petitioned the Akyem Abuakwa judicial council on November 9, 2022, accusing the chief of engaging in illegal mining under the guise of community mining polluting rivers and degrading farmlands threatening food security and livelihood of smallholder farmers.
The petition was submitted weeks after some illegal miners in Asamang Tamfoe clashed with Okyeman Environmental Taskforce on an anti-galamsey operation in the community leading to the exchange of gunshots on the streets.
Subsequently, the Benkumhene held a press conference on October 6, 2022, calling the bluff of the Okyeman Environmental taskforce led by Chief of Akyem Apapam, Osabarima Apagya Ofori IV and dared to violently clash with them should they return to the community to perpetuate same.
Acting on the petition, the Akyem Abuakwa Judicial Council summoned the Chief of Asamang-Tamfoe Osabarima Kwame Koh II and the Benkumhene Nana Boakye Darkwa to appear before it on 21st November 2022 for a hearing which they complied.
During the court proceedings, the Benkumhene of Asamang-Tamfoe Nana Boakye Darkwa was asked by the Akyem Abuakwa judicial council on whose authority he acts to organize the press conference on 6th October 2022 since the Chief of Asamang-Tamfoe Osabarima Kwame Koh II was in Kumasi on the said date.
Secondly, he was confronted with a daily graphic publication in which he threatened the Okyeman Environmental Taskforce.
The Benkumhene admitted guilt and lay prostrate to apologize to Okyenhene and Akyem Abuakwa traditional council.
Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin who chaired the Akyem Abuakwa Judicial Council made consequential orders for the removal of the Benkumhene.
“I order that the Benkumhene should not remain as the Benkumhene because he has defied the orders that I instructed the taskforce to protect the Akyem lands from all illegal mining activities”.
“The destruction of lands and water bodies going on at Asamang-Tamfoe, are you happy? You did something wrong and Okyenhene called you and you refused to come, because of galamsey all our water bodies are destroyed in even Kyebi here, the same as Tamfoe, I am not interested in mining, I hate it” Okyenhene fumed.
However, Benkumhene of Asamang -Tamfoe is challenging the alleged destoolment stating that the trial was unfairly done in a kangaroo manner with no opportunity for defence.
He said, he personally abdicated himself from the stool for five years but begged by the royal family to re-ascend to the stool therefore not afraid of destoolment however must be done through due process.
He denied the flat accusation that he was engaging in illegal mining stating that, as a former district best cocoa farmer he has never been interested in mining but was made chairman for the community mining in order to ensure responsible mining.
“I declare and state without any equivocation that, I did not prostrate as a sign of remorsefulness or guilt but as a sign of rendering an underserved reverence because considering the venue of the gathering, any form of resistance and insistence on not being guilty would not have resulted in any peaceful reactions.
Source: Mybrytnewsroom.com/Obed Ansah
