The Kingmakers at Akropong have blamed police for not enforcing the social distancing protocol by driving away onlookers who crowded the forecourt of the Akropong Chief Palace to witness the installation of e new Okuapemhene.
Four persons including three Chiefs and a Linguist were picked by Akropong Police for a flouting ban on social gathering and distancing by holding enstoolment ceremony.
They were picked Friday afternoon by the Akropong Police led by the District Police Commander, Stephen Tetteh. They have since been granted bail to report in person to the Police on Monday.
Akuapem North Municipality has recorded three confirmed cases of Coronavirus -Two in Akropong, One case at Amanokrom. All three cases were imported.
Ghana has recorded 2074 coronavirus with 17 deaths and 212 recoveries as of April 29,2020. As a measure to contain the spread of coronavirus, President Akufo has suspended social gatherings with more than 25 persons. The installation of new Okuapemhene Friday amid heavy crowd while Police and Military personnel look on unconcerned has attracted high criticism by a section of Ghanaians.
Speaking to the media after their release, Odehye Kofi Asiedu Adumfo -Linguist for the Kingmakers one of the persons arrested said, officially only 11 persons including 8 kingmakers were accredited to take part in the ceremony; therefore, it was the responsibility of the security to ensure that onlookers who crowded the place were drove away.
A traditional process to enstooled a new Okuapemhene started Friday at Akropong Akuapem in the Eastern Region amid tight security.
There was the heavy presence of armed police from the Formed Police Unit (FPU), Military personnel, BNI, and National Security operatives.
The swift enstoolment of Nana Kwadwo Kese, 34, as the new Okuapemhene follows nullification of the enstoolment process of Odehye Kwasi Akufo by the Judicial Committee of the Eastern Regional House of chiefs on Thursday.
The Abrewatia of Sakyeabea Royal Family and eighth of the eleven Kingmakers presented the Paramount Chief elect to the Asonahene, the Krontihene, Osahene Ofei Kwasi Agyemang and Baamuhene, Nana Kwame Asare Bampoe to perform the necessary traditional rites and slaughtering of sheep on the feet of Nana Kwadwo Kese signifying their endorsement.
He was then paraded three times to and fro north and south of Akropong Township as tradition demands.
The Paramount Chief Elect will swear to the Krontihene and all five divisional chiefs will also swear an oath of allegiance to him before outdooring.
The Ofori Kuma stool has been vacant for almost five years after the demise of Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwah III, Okuapemanhene due to dispute among the Sakyeabea Royal family over who is the rightful candidate to ascend the Ofori Kuma stool to succeed the late Oseadeyo Addo Dankwah III, who reigned for 41 years.
The Okuapeman stool has three ruling houses – Nketia, Amogyaa, and Sakyibea. Currently, it is the turn of the Sakyeabea ruling house to select a candidate to be installed as Okuapemhene
In 2017, while Odehye Kwasi Akufo was installed by the Paramount Queen-mother Nana Afua Nketia Obuo III as the successor to the late Okuapemhene Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa III, the Abrewatia of Sakyeabea Royal family also nominated Nana Kwadwo Kese as Paramount Chief.
This chieftaincy dispute led to several clashes and destruction of properties in Akropong. The Palace was closed down and taken over by the security.
Lilian Nana Agyemang who is the Abrewatia of the Sakyeabea Royal family petitioned the Regional House Chiefs challenging the traditional capacity of the Paramount Queen-mother in selecting and installing Odehye Kwasi Akufo as Okupemhene.
Delivering the landmark judgment Thursday, April 30, 2020, the Eastern Regional House of Chief upheld that, selection of a legible royal to be enstooled as Paramount Chief is the prerogative of the Abrewatia of the ruling family whose turn it is to select a candidate and submit the name of the chosen royal to Asonahene to be sent to the Queen-mother.
The House upheld that the Queen-mother failed to provide evidence that the right traditional procedures were followed in the enstoolment of Odehye Kwasi Akuffo as Okuapemhene.
The House also stated that the Queen-mother alone cannot select a candidate from the Royal Family without the involvement of the Abrewatia, adding that, the involvement of the Abrewatia and the elderly female is an aged-custom which does not take away the powers of the Queen-mother in presenting the candidate to the Kingmakers for final enstoolment, therefore declared that the installment of Odehye Kwasi Akufo is null and void with no traditional effect hence should not parade himself as Paramount Chief
The house directed that the due traditional processes must hence be followed in enstooling a successor.
The Regional House of Chiefs awarded Ghc25,000 cost against the Queen-mother.
The judgment was delivered amid tight security of armed Police and Military Personnel at the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs and Akropong Township. The security personnel deployed from Accra were to maintain a presence at Akropong and its surrounding areas.
Source: Mybrytfmonline/Obed Ansah
