Abusuapanin Akwasi Sarpong for Mamfe Asona Abusua has vehemently stated that Okuapiman needs peace, unity, and development; hence Okuapehemaa Nana Afua Nketia Obuo II should allow the National House of Chiefs to give their verdict on the impending Okuapim chieftaincy dispute.
According to him, Nana Afua Nketia Obuo II filed another case yesterday 24th June 2022 at Kumasi when the National house of chiefs was ready to give their verdict on the said case.
He said Nana Afua Nketia Obuo II told the panel that she doesn’t want Krakyewura to be part of the case hearing as a panel member since he has a strong relationship with Benkumhene of Akuapem Traditional Area who doubles as Larteh chief, Osabarima Asiedu Okoo Ababio II. Due to this, the case was adjourned.
According to Nana Afua Nketia Obuo II, Krachewura and Osabarima Asiedu Okoo Ababio II are both brothers-in-law and Lartehene is in support of the current paramount chief of Okuapem, Oseadeeyo Kwasi Akuffo II hence the need to exempt him from the panels.
She also asserted that Krakyewura bought a brand new car for Akuapem Lartehene, Osabarima Asiedu Okoo Ababio II, some years back so there is a strong relationship between them.
In furtherance, Abusuapanin Akwasi Sarpong stated that, during an Ohum durbar at Mamfe, under the auspices of Osabarima Nana Ansah Sasraku, Mamfehene and Kyidomhene of the Akuapem traditional area invited Krachewura in the presence of Aburihene who double as Adontenhene of Akuapem, Otoobour Djan Kwasi, II, Nana Afua Nketia Obuo II, Okuapemhemaa and a host of other dignitaries were in attendance.
He added that Otoobour Djan Kwasi, II, Osabarima Nana Ansah Sasraku are all in support of Nana Afua Nketia Obuo II against the current Okuapimhene, Oseadeeyo Kwasi Akuffo II, “hence they can influence Krachewura since they have a strong relationship with him”.
The case which involves Lily Agyemang vrs Nana Afua Nketia Obuo II and 3 others has been pending since 2017 after the demise of the late Okuapehene, Osiadeyo Addo Dankwa III.
Okotwaasuo Kantamanto Oworae Agyekum III, Kwahuhene Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II, Krono of Manya Krobo Nene Sakite II, and Cecil Hammond who formed the panel ruled that the petitioner, Lily Agyemang, the Abrewatia of the royal Sakyiebea house can appoint a chief.
The panel also gave a restraining order against Odehyie Kwasi Akuffo from carrying himself as the Chief of Okuapeman thus nullifying his enstoolment.
Background
Odehye Kwasi Akufo was enstooled by the Paramount Queen-mother Nana Afua Nketia Obuo as the successor to the late Okuapemhene Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa III without due traditional process.
The Okuapeman stool has three ruling houses- Nketia, Amogyaa, and Sakyeabea. Currently, it is the turn of the Sakyibea ruling house to select a candidate to be installed as Okuapemhene.
However, the Okuapemhene Stool has remained vacant almost five years after the demise of Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwah III, Okuapemanhene, due to a dispute emanating from the Sakyibea Royal family whose turn it is to nominate an heir to the vacant stool.
Two factions emerged from the Sakyibea Royal Family and each claimed to be the right candidate to succeed the late Oseadeyo Addo Dankwah III, who ruled for 41 years before his demise.
While the Paramount queen-mother Nana Afua Nketiaa Obuo selected Odehyie Kwasi Akuffo, a retired Journalist, and installed him as the new Okuapemhene, Odehyie Kwasi Akuffo, a businessman was subsequently given the stool name Nana Oboubi Atiemo, the Abrewatia of Sakyibea Royal family also nominated Nana Kese as Paramount Chief.
This chieftaincy dispute led to several clashes and the destruction of properties in Akropong.
Lilian Nana Agyemang who is the Abrewatia of the Sakyibea 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 Odehye Kwasi Akufo’s name was presented to the Asonahene as tradition says.
The House also stated that in nominating a candidate, 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 that does not take away the powers of the Queen-mother in presenting the candidate to the Kingmakers.
Therefore, the installment of Odehye Kwasi Akufo is null and void with no traditional effect hence processes must be followed in enstooling an Okuapemhene.
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 are to maintain their presence at Akropong and its surrounding areas.
History suggests that the process of enstooling a paramount Chief whenever the stool is vacant has never been smooth in the last 100 years.
Source: Mybrytnewsroom.com
