There is tension steaming and about to explode in the otherwise peaceful town of Offinso in Ashanti Region following what is seen as schemes by the Queenmother, Nana Ama Serwaa Nyarko and the Gyaasehene, Nana Kofi Tabi II, to impose an unqualified candidate on the town.
Details available to The Herald is that the two traditional leaders are planning to secretly picked up the immediate past Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Dr. Kofi Koduah Sarpong, this week to begin with the processes to have him enstooled as a successor to the late Offinsohene, Nana Wiafe Akenten III, who died on Saturday, October 2nd, 2021.
But there are concerns that Dr. Sarpong, one of the 18 individuals interested in the stool, is not from the area, hence unqualified for the job.
There are claims that the former GNPC boss has some ties to the town but it is remote.
Many, however, described Dr. Sarong as usurper, insisting he is from the Beposo Asona Royal family and not from Dwamena and the Wiafe Stool of Offinso.
Dr. Sarpong is said to be from Beposo, a town in the Bosomtwe District of the Ashanti Region, where his parents and other relatives are buried, and where he stands a better chance there.
The Herald has picked up a report that one Nana Kusi Appiah, the Mansokwantahene, is brazenly behind the schemes for the ex-GNPC boss to have access to the stool.
Additional reports are that the name of Asantehene is being bandied around as supportive of the scheme but he has sought to distance himself from the matter. From the look of things Otumfuo Osei Tutu II would not want to have anything to do with Dr. Sarpong.
The Asante monarch is said to have felt disrespected in the past by the ex-GNPC boss during his days as Kotoko Football Club especially when the latter took the club to court. He might not get the blessing of Manhyia Palace.
Meanwhile, The Herald has cited a detailed document on the history, the cultural and traditional protocols of the area and who can ascend to the Offinso stool; one of the most powerful stools under the Asantehene.
Interestingly, Dr. Sarpong has in record time, put up what is believed to be an 8-bedroom mansion in the town to establish some ties to the stool.
There are allegations of gifts of cars from the Queenmother in particular in a bid to influence her to give the stool to Dr. Sarpong, who has never hidden interest in the stool to his many pals.
The Queenmother is alleged to have received a sleek Mercedes Benz car from Dr. Sarpong, which has been parked in her residence at Achimota in Accra.
Her interest and that the Gyaasehene, in having Dr. Sarpong in becoming the Offinsohene has become talk of the town with some of the youth in the area vowing to resist the former GNPC boss from ascending to the stool because he is not from there.
They also insisted that his connection, it’s remote and not directly to the Offinso stool as he is not a royal from Offinso in the Offinso Municipality in the Ashanti Region to the best of their knowledge.
Others have mentioned that he could be picked today, Tuesday, 26th April 2022 by agents of the Queenmother and Gyaasehene but this is likely to be the start of a long drawn trouble to come.
More to come!
Source: The Heraldghana