Members of the Okyeman Youth Association
The Okyeman Youth Association (OYA), has chided the Chief Executive Officer of KOANS Building Solutions Limited, Kofi Anokye, for what it describes as derogatory comments made against the person of Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin relating to land theft.
The group in a press statement indicated that Mr. Anokye in a statement had alleged that with respect to lands leased to the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), he has directed payments to the Ofori Panin Palace at Adabraka through his alleged surrogates.
But OYA in its counter statement holds that, “His claim of ownership based on an alleged sale of the said land to the Mankata and Quansah families by the Apedwa stool is fraudulent and same is legally untenable. We are befuddled by the claim of the Mankata family that they owe 27 thousand acres of Okyeman lands. Historically, it is only through an act of war and conquest that a group can lay claim to such vast land.”
It said the Okyenhene is the immemorial allodia owner of all lands in Akyem Abuakwa, thus per the records of the Ofori Panin Fie, there has been no evidence of any land transaction with the Mankata and the Quansah families, adding that “all the claims by Mr. Kofi Anokye are a public admission of fraud and deliberate misrepresentation of facts.”
“We wish to assure all that Okyeman will not become an unconscious plaything in the hands of profiteers and fraudulent businessmen who want to reap where they have not sown.”
The statement said the Association is also concerned with what it describes as Mr. Anokye’s deliberate and ignorant misrepresentation of the views of the venerable Dr. J. B. Danquah that 98% of Akyem Abuakwa lands have been sold, sighting a 1918 publication.
“What Dr. J.B. Danquah was referring to, which will not escape any reasonable mind was not a transfer of allodial ownership but a right conferred on the customary usufruct, that is families, groups and individuals who have with the permission of the Okyenhene and the various sub-stools used Akyem Abuakwa lands for farming purposes,” the statement clarified.
Again, the statement also took issues with Mr. Anokye for the “attempted assault on the dignity of the Ofori Panin Stool with reference to the murder of Akyea Mensah, a matter that has been resolved to the understanding that the revered Ofori Panin Stool was never involved in the act. All documents prove and police report by the then colonial government substantiates the above.”
“The more interesting point, which concerns us, is the orchestrated vilification of His Royal Majesty the Okyenhene and Okyeman. This has eroded the patience of the leadership and ranks of the Okyeman Youth Association not only on Mr. Kofi Anokye but those who give support and encouragement to his insurgency against Okyeman,” the association declared.
The statant added that OYA will be unable to restrain its members from their legitimate confrontation to the theft of Akyem Abuakwa lands which was won by blood and sweat of their ancestors.
It assured His Royal Majesty Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin of their support in his effort at safeguarding the mineral and land resources of Okyeman, adding that “we cannot fail to note his advocacy and commitment to sustainable livelihood of the youth, not only of Okyeman over the past two decades.”