The annual Odwira Festival celebrated by the chiefs and people of Akropong-Akuapem in the Eastern Region will not take place this year due to the death of the Okuapemhemaa, Nana Dokua, who was expected to install a new paramount chief to succeed the late Okuapemanhene, Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa III.
DAILY GUIDE gathered that the elders of the Akropong Traditional Council took the decision because preparations were underway to install a new queen mother who would also nominate a new Omanhene for the paramouncty before the late queen mother could be buried.
Even though the residents and revelers would be allowed to mark the festival, the chiefs, who would not hold any durbar, would perform the annual traditional rites.
When DAILY GUIDE visited Akropong on Thursday, scores of residents and revelers were busily preparing for the celebration.
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, presidential candidate of the New Patrotic Party (NPP), among other dignitaries, on Wednesday stormed the chief’s palace to mourn with the traditional council following the death of Nana Dokua, who passed on a few weeks ago.
Sources close to the palace confirmed to DAILY GUIDE that the traditional council was putting measures in place to nominate and install a new queen mother per the customs, who would also choose a royal candidate that would be accepted by the kingmakers before he would be installed as a paramount chief.
Battle Of Chiefs
Currently, there is controversy in the area over who should become the next Omanhene, as some aggrieved parties want to choose a new person to lead the Sakyibea Royal House.
The issue went before the Eastern Regional Minister, Mavis Ama Frimpong, who brokered peace between the warring factions.
As a result, the Asonahene was appointed and mandated to ensure the installation of a new paramount chief.
Abusuapayin of the Sakyibea royal families, Nana Obuobisa Newman, resigned his position during the reign of the late Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa III.
Soon after the death of the paramount chief, he came back to claim that his resignation was not accepted by the late chief so he was still at post.
After the meeting in Koforidua, the Akuapim North Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) George Opare Addo, again met the parties at Akropong and reappointed Nana Obuobisa Newman and asked him to take immediate steps to solve the problem.
The move reportedly did not go down well with some of the family members since the acceptance of the resignation of the Abusuapanyin by the late Okuapenhene was documented at the traditional council.
Some family members accepted the re-appointment for peace to prevail.
He subsequently pleaded with the Aburihene to convene a meeting.
The Aburihene, Otobuor Gyan Kwasi II, who is also the Adontenhene of the Okuapeman Traditional Area, an Aduana, attempted to bring an end to the Abrewa Tia saga in the Sakyibea royal family which is part of the Asona clan.
The Aburihene chose a new person, one Lilly, as part of his efforts to ensure peace.
The former Abrewa Tia, Madam Georgina, who served under the late Okuapeman Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa lll, accepted the appointment in good faith to pave the way for the process.
Otobuor Gyan Kwasi told Abrewa Tia to consult other elderly ladies in the family and avoid unilateral decisions.
The new Abrewa Tia and another old lady announced the name of a candidate- Kwasi Ohene Kessieh, 32 – Â but five people rejected the nominee on the grounds that they also have a candidate by name Kwasi Akuffo, 65.
This didn’t go down well with Abrewa Tia Lilly since Kwasi Akuffo is the son of the Abrewa Tia Georgina, who served under the late Okuapenhene.
The old ladies then asked for a vote on the issue but Abrewa Tia Lilly rejected the proposal because she believed they would prevail.
From Daniel Bampoe, Akropong-Akuapem