A new Okuapemhene is being enstooled in Akropong Akuapem in the Eastern Region amid tight security.
There is heavy presence of armed police from the Formed Police Unit (FPU), Military personnel, BNI and National Security operatives.
The swift enstoolment of Nana Kwadwo Kese, 34, as the new Okuapemhene follows nullification of the enstoolment of Odehye Kwasi Akufo by the Eastern Regional House of chiefs on Thursday.
The Abrewatia of Sakyeabea Royal Family and eighth of the eleven Kingmakers presented the Paramount Chief elect to the Asonahene, the Krontihene -Osahene Ofei Kwasi Agyemang and Baamuhene -Nana Kwame Asare Bampoe to perform the necessary traditional rites and slaughtering of sheep on the feet of Nana Kwadwo Kese signifying their endorsement.
He was then paraded three times to and fro north and south of Akropong Township as tradition demands.
The Paramount Chief Elect will swear to the Krontihene and all five divisional chiefs will also swear oath of allegiance to him before outdooring.
Bennett Smith Opoku, a spokesperson for Sakyeabea Royal Family told the media that the enstoolment was 85 per cent completed.
The Okuapemhene Stool has remained vacant for almost five years after the demise of Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwah III, Okuapemanhene due to dispute among the Sakyeabea Royal family over who is the rightful candidate to ascend the Ofori Kuma stool to succeed the late Oseadeyo Addo Dankwah III, who reigned for 41 years.
The Okuapeman stool has three ruling houses – Nketia, Amogyaa, and Sakyibea. Currently, it is the turn of the Sakyeabea ruling house to select a candidate to be installed as Okuapemhene
In 2017, while Odehye Kwasi Akufo was enstooled by the Paramount Queenmother Nana Afua Nketia Obuo as successor to the late Okuapemhene Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa III a retired Journalist, the Abrewatia of Sakyeabea Royal family also nominated Nana Kwadwo Kese as Paramount Chief.
This chieftaincy dispute led to several clashes and destruction of properties in Akropong. The Palace was closed down and taken over by the security.
Lilian Nana Agyemang who is the Abrewatia of the Sakyeabea Royal family petitioned the Regional House Chiefs challenging the traditional capacity of the Paramount Queenmother in selecting and installing Odehye Kwasi Akufo as Okupemhene.
Delivering the landmark judgement 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 Queenmother.
The House upheld that the Queenmother failed to provide evidence that the right traditional procedures were followed in the enstoolment of Odehye Kwasi Akuffo as Okuapemhene.
The House also stated that, the Queenmother 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 which does not take away the powers of the Queenmother in presenting the candidate to the Kingmakers for final enstoolment, therefore declared that, the instalment of Odehye Kwasi Akufo is null and void with no traditional effect hence should not parade himself as Paramount Chief
The house directed that the due traditional processes must hence be followed in enstooling a successor.
The Regional House of Chiefs awarded Ghc25,000 cost against the Queenmother.
The judgement 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 were to maintain presence at Akropong and its surrounding areas.
History suggests that processes of enstooling a paramount Chief whenever the stool is vacant has never been smooth in the last 100 years.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Kojo Ansah
