Osagyefuo Amotia Ofori Panin
The Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amotia Ofori Panin, has issued a stern warning to persons who attempt to drag his name into disrepute, particularly on matters relating to chieftaincy disputes.
Osagyefuo, President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, who gave the warning when two newly installed chiefs – the embattled Apapamhene, Osabarima Okgyeaman Apagya Ofori ll and Ankaasehene Baafour Ansah Sasraku Ofram ll – sworn to him at the Ofori Panin Fie during a State Council meeting over the weekend, pointed out that the palace would no longer tolerate attacks on his personality and the stool. He has therefore, subsequently ordered the Traditional Council to lay surveillance and summon culprits to the palace for sanctions.
“Now the youth have the guts to go on radio to make slanderous comments; we will not allow this. I have said whether Apapam, Ankaase or anywhere, anybody that will be heard speaking against this palace you must make sure you get his or her name and family identity and summon him to this palace so that we deal with the person,” the Okyenhene ordered.
He also cautioned against the growing phenomenon in the traditional area where some people arrogate to themselves kingmakers, enstooling and destooling chiefs and in the process creating chaos in the area.
Nana Okogyeaman Apegya Fori II, who is known in private life as Nana Yaw Dankwa was installed as the chief of Akyem-Apapam after a long chieftaincy feud.
There was confusion in the community and security was beefed up following his installation when the traditional authorities, led by the Kyedom Panyin of Akyem Apapam, Nana Poku Mintah, threatened to use all legal means to stop the installation of a parallel chief by Okyenhene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin.
Last Monday morning, the town folks took the town hostage, blocking the roads with logs, burnt tyres and fired gunshots to stop the new chief’s installation. Schools were closed down over the chieftaincy disputes but there was heavy security to forestall the mayhem that might have occurred.
The Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council on 7th October, 2014, stopped the installation of Nana Opoku Akyeampong, a rival chief, as the Apapamhene and head of the Amantuomiensa Division of Akyem Abuakwa. The council noted that the installation was unlawful, uncustomary and irregular.
FROM Daniel Bampoe, Kyebi