Lawyer For Okuapehemaa Warns National House Of Chiefs Against Gazetting Kwadwo Kesse As Okuapehene

Lawyer for the Queenmother of Akuapem Traditional Area, Nana Afua Nketiaa Obuo II, Asonahene of Akuapem, Nana Kwasi Omenako II, Twafohene of Akuapem, Okromansah Amoah II, and a contestant to the Ofori Kuma Stool, Odehye Kwasi Akuffo, has warned the National House of Chiefs (NHCs) against going ahead to gazette Kwadwo Kessie Antwi, despite a ruling by the NHCs.

There are strong indications that the NHCs is bent on defying a judgement by its own Judicial Committee on September 29, 2022, which affirms the judgement of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs on April 30, 2022, to gazette Odehye Kwadwo Kessie Antwi.

In a letter addressed to the Registrar of the NHCs, dated October 3, 2022, Lawyer Ansa-Asare averred that any attempt to gazette Odehye Kwadwo Kesse Antwi as Okuapehene will be tantamount to contempt of court.

“… and in this regard have further instructed me to bring to the notice of Nananom, the ruling of the High Court, sitting at Koforidua on Wednesday the 17th Day of March 2021, before Her Ladyship Justice Doris Dabanka-Bekoe (Mrs.) J, in suit No. D16/99/2020,” the letter stated.

According to the lawyer for the applicants, one of the orders in the judgement of the lower tribunal which was unconditionally affirmed by the judicial committee of the NHCs states as follows: “Nananom further order that customs, usage, practices of Akropong-Akuapem must be followed in the process ending in the installation of an eligible Odehye as the next occupant of the Ofori Kuma Stool.”

The above order, Lawyer Ansa-Asare said, directed the petitioner/respondent, Lily Agyemang, as well as his clients to adhere strictly to the “hallowed customary procedure” in the installation of the next Okuapehene.

“For the avoidance of doubt, my clients instruct me to refer the National House of Chiefs to the customs, usages and practices of Akropong-Akuapem which clearly and eloquently spelt out by Nananom and which can be found at paragraphs 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the Judgement of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs at pages 28 and 29 thereof, as the procedure to be followed,” it said.

The letter reminded Madam Lily Agyemang, and her son, Odehye Kwadwo Kessie, that they were cited in contempt of court for acts and conduct amounting to contempt of court, and accordingly convicted to a fine of GHC10,000 cash and in default 14 days imprisonment.

The said contemptuous, acts, according to the letter, included submitting an application to gazette Odehye Kwadwo Kessie Antwi as Okuapehene.

Consequently, Lawyer Ansa-Asare cautioned the NHCs not to go ahead with their intended plan to gazette Odehye Kwadwo Kessie Antwi.

“Also my clients instruct me to advise Nananom of the National House of Chiefs to act at all times in the best interest of the nation in keeping with the tenets of the provisions in Article 270 to 277 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana in order to uphold the dignity, integrity and sincerity and sanctity of the chieftaincy institution,” the letter noted.

“It is the reasonable expectation of my clients, therefore, that the National House of Chiefs will strive to uphold the administration of justice and will do nothing to lower the dignity of this august body in the interest of the peace and stability of the Akuapem State in particular and mother Ghana in general,” the letter urged.

Concluding the letter, Lawyer Ansah-Asare reminded the NHCs that the institution was of the defining elements of the chieftaincy institution which is, the custom, usages and traditions of the chiefs and peoples of Ghana.

“And, no doubt, it is this cherished commitment to uphold the rule of law which undoubtedly motivated Nananom to uphold the hallowed procedure pertaining to the process leading to the installation of Akuapem’s next Okuapehene in the Judgement of their Judicial Committee dated 30th April, 2020, and 20th September, 2022, respectively,” the letter added.
Copies of the letter were made to the Acting President, Akuapem Traditional Council, the Registrar, Akuapem Traditional Council, the Eastern Regional Minister, and the Municipal Chief Executive, Akuapem North Municipal Assembly, Akropong-Akuapem.

The rest are Nana Afua Nketiaa Obuo II, Okuapemhemea’s Palace, Akropong-Akuapem, Dr. Obuobisah Newman, Abusuapanyin, Sakyibea Royal House, Akropong-Akuapem, Edmund Ohene Asah Agykeum, Acting Abusuapanyin, Nketiaa Royal House, Akuapem-Akropong and Kwaku Ampofo, Abusuapanyin, Ama Ogya Royal House, Akropong-Akuapem.

source:www.senaradioonline.com