Chieftaincy Brouhaha: Akropong set to explode as Government’s long hands is spotted in Dirty Deal

Akropong, the traditional headquarters of Akwapim, is likely to explode, following machinations to install and enstool a paramount chief for the area.

There is tension in the area and government’s long hands are in the dirty pie in the area, which hitherto was very peaceful.

So grubby are the moves by the government and certain top officials from the area that the youth, in the coming days, are likely to resist attempts to enstool one of the parties in the chieftaincy litigation.

There is heavy security presence at Akropong and there are indicators that the security forces are in support of one faction in the matter.

Events at Akropong got to a crescendo last Thursday when the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs nullified the enstoolment of Odehye Kwasi Akuffo as the Okuapemhene.
Per the ruling of the House of Chiefs, the Sakyeabea Royal Family should restart the processes of getting the town a paramount chief.

However, with the support of state apparatus, Odehye Kwadwo Kesse was quickly enstooled as the new Okuapemhene against what the House of Chiefs said.

The Okuapemhene Stool has remained vacant for almost five years after the demise of Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa III due to disputes emanating from the Sakyeabea Royal Family, whose turn it was to nominate someone to occupy the stool.

The Okuapeman Stool has three ruling houses, namely Nketia, Amogyaa and Sakyeabea.

Two factions emerged from the Sakyeabea Royal Family, with each claiming to be the rightful candidate to succeed the late paramount chief, who ruled peacefully for 41 years.

After the House of Chiefs’ ruling, the security forces, under the instruction of some heavyweights in government, defied the ban on public gathering because of the COVID-19 pandemic and guarded the installation of Odehye Kwadwo Kesse.

Social distancing was not observed at the illegal gathering and there are fears that the deadly bug will spread in the area soon.

What is intriguing is the fact that basic customary practices that go with such an important exercise were thrown to the dogs.
The other faction within the Sakyeabea Royal Family has vowed to also install their candidate in the coming days.

The Okuapeman Palace is presently under lock and key and guarded by fully armed Military and Police personnel.

The Inquisitor is reliably informed of stockpiles of arms within the Akropong township and the surrounding areas.
Security agencies were in 1993 overwhelmed with the kind of arms that were used in a land tussle between the people of Akropong and Abirew.

The Inquisitor without any fear of contradiction has it that the seat of government at the weekend dispatched a team to Akwapim to convince the chiefs that constitute the divisions under the Okuapeman paramountcy to swear the oath of allegiance to Odehye Kwadwo Kesse, something that is illegal.

The team was made up of a minister from the Akwapim area, together with one of the directors from Jubilee House and top officials from the Ministry for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.

The divisional chiefs, according to flawless information available to The Inquisitor, were to have taken delivery of some largesse from the government, but they all refused to meet with the emissaries.

The Aburihene, Otuobour Djan Kwasi, had to warn the government not too long ago to stop poking its nose into the Okuapeman chieftaincy affairs when it became obvious that government was manipulating events.

The Inquisitor’s visit to Akropong revealed that Odehye Kwadwo Kesse has been confined in a room located on the Akropong-Larteh road.

Traditionally, the Okuapemhene must be confined in ‘Banmu’ by the Banmuhene who would later send him to the Asonahene as part of the processes to have a legitimate paramount chief.

On this occasion because the processes have been circumvented, the Asonahene, The Inquisitor is informed, has decided not to be part of the illegitimate processes.
Meanwhile, the other faction of the

Sakyeabea Royal Family is expected to file for an appeal on last Thursday’s ruling by the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs.

Issues of contempt will be raised in the appeal as those who moved to enstool Odehye Kwadwo Kesse went contrary to what the House of Chiefs said in its ruling.

Source: the Inquisitor