The Central Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has restricted Akwasidae celebrations in the Denkyira Traditional Area to within palace walls and suspended all chieftaincy installations, citing a volatile security situation.
The directive was contained in a letter dated August 28, 2026, signed by the Regional Minister and REGSEC Chairman, Eduamoah Ekow Panyin Okyere, and addressed to the Denkyirahene, Odeefo Boa Amponsem IV.
According to the letter, “All Akwasidae rituals, gatherings, and celebrations must be confined strictly within the walls of your palaces in Dunkwa-On-Offin. The proposed installation of any sub-chiefs or traditional leaders by either faction is put on immediate hold.”
It further states: “No installation processes or ceremonies shall take place until further notice.”
The letter warns that failure to comply “will result in an immediate ban and physical shutdown of all activities by state security.”
REGSEC says it will invite both factions to a resolution meeting in the coming days to determine the way forward, while security agencies have been deployed to monitor the palaces. Any violation will result in arrest and prosecution.
The restriction is significant because Akwasidae occupies a central place in Akan traditional life.
It is observed every 40 days as a sacred day to honour ancestors, purify the Black Stools, and reaffirm the bond between the living and the dead. For Denkyira, whose kingdom was one of the most powerful in the Gold Coast before 1701, it remains a key pillar of traditional authority.
Sources in Denkyira say the directive is unlikely to be seen as an ordinary administrative measure and could heighten tensions between REGSEC and the Traditional Council.
The letter cites a “volatile security situation” and a “critical threat to public peace” as justification.
Under the Security and Intelligence Agencies Act and the Public Order Act, REGSEC can impose temporary restrictions to maintain law and order. However, under Article 270 of the 1992 Constitution and the Chieftaincy Act, 2008 (Act 759), chieftaincy matters remain the exclusive preserve of the Houses of Chiefs.
The directives, therefore, place a temporary freeze on a major aspect of traditional administration in Denkyira, raising questions about the balance between security enforcement and traditional autonomy.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
