Otuobuor Djan Kwasi
Otuobuor Djan Kwasi II, the Aburihene, who doubles as the Adontenhene of Akropong Traditional Council in the Eastern Region, has asked government to stop meddling in the Akropong chieftaincy dispute.
The Aburihene raised the concern at this year’s Odwira Festival which coincided with his 30th anniversary under the theme, “The role of traditional authorities in the sustenance of democratic governance and security.”
He said government should stop the interference and allow chiefs to resolve their problems.
Otubour Djan Kwasi said that “no government has ever meddled in the entoolment of chiefs by the overlord of the Ashanti Kingdom His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.”
He could not fathom why government was meddling in the Akropong chieftaincy impasse.
“We’ve seen that a lot of people are poking their noses into the affairs of Okuapeman, and so we will not sit down. Okuapeman has very peace-loving people. We’ve realized that there is a lot of infiltration and so we will also advise ourselves,” he added.
Since the death of the Paramount Chief of the area, Oseadeyo Nana Addo Dankwah III about three years ago, there has been dispute over the nomination of candidates for the stool.
The tension prevented the people of Akropong from holding the Odwira durbar in 2017.
The National Security last month handed over the Okuapeman Palace to the traditional council to ensure peace in the area.
The Okuapemhene Stool has remained vacant due to a dispute in the Sakyibea Royal family, which has the mandate to elect the next Okuapemhene.
Two factions from the Sakyebea Royal Family say they have the legitimate right to choose the next Okuapemhene to succeed the late Paramount chief, who ruled for 41 years.
Odehyie Kwasi Akuffo, a 63-year-old retired journalist and businessman and one Nana Kesse were installed in separate functions on the same day.
Owing to tension in the area, the National Security operatives and some police officers ransacked the palace and prevented the factions from operating from there.
As part of plans to maintain law and order, the National Security operatives arrested Nana Kwasi Omenako II, head of the Asona Family of Okuapeman and Tufuhene of Akropong, Nana Yaw Ampem Darko, known in private life as George Darko, the popular highlife musician, who composed the hit song ‘Ako Te Brofo.’
After the intervention by National Security, a seven-member committee was formed on December 22, 2017 by the Akuapem Traditional Council to resolve the chieftaincy dispute, but was later dissolved owing to death threats to some of the members.
The defunct committee was chaired by Otoobour Djan Kwasi II.
The Paramount queen mother, Nana Afua Nketiaa Obuo selected Odehyie Kwasi Akuffo and installed him as the new Okuapenhene, but another faction installed Nana Kese as the paramount chief.
Odehyie Kwasi Akuffo was subsequently given the stool name Nana Oboubi Atiemo II.
The faction opposed to the queen mother filed a contempt application against the Okuapenhemaa and 12 others at the Koforidua High Court.
But the court, presided over by Justice Cecilia Naa Shormeh Davis, dismissed the case on the basis that the respondents had not violated any court injunction.
Another petition was filed at the Regional House of chiefs by Lily Agyemang against the Paramount queen mother, Nana Afua Nketiaa Obuo II and three others.
The judicial committee, which being chaired by Okotwasuo Kanatamanto Amanto Owoarae Agyekum III, with Nene Sakite II and Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II as members, ruled that Kwesi Akuffo and Kesse Antwi must not hold themselves as paramount chiefs and also carry out activities during the Odwira Festival.
This year’s Odwira festival was attended by the Speaker of Parliament, Prof Aaron Mike Oquaye, National Chief Imam, Sheikh Nuru Shaributu, Member of Parliament (MP) for Akwapim South, O.B. Amoah, Eastern Regional Minister Eric Kwakye Darfuor and his deputy Joseph Tetteh, DCE for Akuapem South, Frank Aidoo, MCE for Nsawam, Isaac Buabeng, among others.
From Daniel Bampoe, Aburi