The Okyenhene, Osaagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin is warning the Chief of Aworasa, Barima Pobi Asomaning, to stay away from the Asamankese stool.
The Aworasa chief is claiming that he is the new chief of Asamankese, with the stool name “Osaberima Ateabisa Kentinka Pobi Asomaning I”.
According to the overlord of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council, the Okyenhene, in a statement reacting to the event said, “Osabarima Adu Darko III remains the legitimate Chief of Asamankese; thus the purported installation of Barima Pobi Asomaning I, is unlawful, irregular, uncustomary, and an aberration of Akyem Abuakwa customs and therefore null, void, and of no effect.”
The Okyenhene further stated that the said impasse over who qualified to be the chief of Asamankese had already been resolved in favour of Osabarima Adu Darko III and Barima Pobi Asomaning II fined hence his actions were affront to “the dignity of Okyeman, and a desecration and violation of its cherished customs and traditions.”
“The Council wishes to indicate that the said Pobi Asomaning is not the chief of Asamankese. For the records, the chief of Asamankese is Osabarima Adu Darko IIl; who has been properly nominated, appointed, enstooled”.
“Subsequently, he has sworn the Oath of Allegiance to His Majesty the Okyenhene and gazetted. The public is informed that anyone who deals with Pobi Asomaning on matters of Asamankese stool land does so at their own risk”.
“All legitimate concerns about these matters must be directed to the Secretariat of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council. The general public and interested parties are duly cautioned” the Okyenhene stated.
Pobi Asomaning Reaction
But Barima Pobi, now claiming to be the Chief of Asamankese with the title Osaberima Ateabisa Kentinka Pobi Asomaning I addressing a press conference at his family house in Asamankese, in a counter to the Okyenhene statement said he is now the new chief for Asamankese and no more the Aworasa chief.
According to him, his outfit has petitioned President Akufo-Addo to intervene in the matter since he is the rightful owner of the Asamankese throne for peace to prevail for him to move to the palace.
He said “since I have been enstooled as Chief of Aworasa, I have since not been destooled by anyone. Rather in the year 2020, I was elevated to Osabarima as Chief of Asamankese by the Akua Korang Lineage of the Royal Abrade Family of Akwamu in Asamankese. So I currently perform my duties as Chief of Aworasa and Chief of Asamankese”.
He added that “With time, a new Chief for Aworasa would be enstooled and I would restrict my duties and obligations to Asamankese”.
He clarified that since 2001, he has since maintained a very cardinal relationship with the Okyenhene, and has sacrificed a lot just to protect the image of the Okyenhene by citing examples.
Background
This development follows a process conducted by the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council on Monday to destool the Chief of Aworasa, Barima Pobi Asomanin II, over gross misconduct against the overlord of the area, Okyenhene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin.
He was accused by the traditional Council for defying the orders of the Okyenhene to go back and swear an oath of allegiance as the Chief of Aworasa when he (Barima Pobi) hauled other Sub chiefs including the Chief of Okurase and Coaltar before the Okyenhene.
He also accused them of usurping his authority to allegedly encroach on portions of lands in his jurisdiction.
However, Barima Pobi Asomanin’s legitimacy as a chief became a subject of questioning at the Ofori Panin fie when he was asked by the Okyenhene in what capacity he had summoned the sub-chiefs.
In answering the question which was posed to him three times, whether he had appeared before the Okyenhene as the Chief of Aworasa or the Chief of Asamankese, he admitted being the former ie. Chief of Aworasa.
The Okyenhene then directed that he returns to swear the oath as the Chief of Aworasa.
When he was being ushered by the elders of the Ofori Panin fie to swear the oath, Barima Pobi Asomanin unceremoniously left the palace and never returned.
The Okyenhene in his remarks after he was informed of the alleged misconduct, said “Henceforth I have taken back my Akofena (the sword of the authority of a chief).
Following that, the Chiefs and elders performed customary rites to destool him as the Chief of Aworasa.
The brouhaha over his legitimacy, according to the Council comes on the back of usurping the authority of Okyenhene who had stopped him from holding himself up as the Chief of Asamankese.
This was after Barima Pobi Asomanin raided the Asamankese palace claiming legitimacy to the throne.
-BY Daniel Bampoe