Opanyin Kwabena Aniagyei (2nd R) with other elders of the family
The Principal elders and Kingmakers of the Aduana family in Etwereso and Osenase are urging the Aduana family and all Ghanaians to disregard the purported break way of the Odau group from the Akyem Abuakwa State.
At a press conference held at Etwereso and addressed by the Head of Aduana Family in Osenase, Opanyin Kwabena Aniagyei, the family reaffirmed their allegiance to the Ofori Panin Stool and its occupant, the Okyenhene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin.
Members of the Aduana family held placards with inscription, ‘Okyeman Tease’, ‘Adauman Is Not For Ayebiahwe’, ‘Okyenhene Is Our Overlord’, ‘Etwereso Is Still Part Of Akyem Abuakwa’, ‘Our Ancestors Served The Ofori Panin Stool, So Shall We.’
The family described an earlier press conference held by a section of the family members in Etwereso, majority of whom he said are not from Akyem, declaring Odau as an independent state or traditional council, as fraudulent.
According to them, the purported spokesperson, one Kwame Afrifa, who made the declaration is not a member of the Aduana family.
“We have heard and watched with dismay the statement and video authored by a certain spokesperson for the Aduana family, one Osei Afrifa, declaring a breakaway and independence of the Odau group from Akyem Abuakwa.
“Their declaration is fraudulent. That guy is an imposter. Osei Afrifa is from Asante Juaso and he is not a member or an elder of the Aduana family, he doesn’t belong to our family, not in Osenase or Etwereso so how can you come from Juaso to declare a breakaway for us,’ asked Opanyin Aniagyei.
Opanyin Aniagyei said, the Aduana family in Osenase and Etwereso disassociates itself from the divisive action against Okyeman and will continue to hold on to the culture and tradition which has kept them together.
“It is important to clear the distortion of our time-tested history that Odau predates Akyem Abuakwa. This assertion is false and must be corrected for the purpose of history. Akyem Abuakwa existed in the 1300, centuries before Odau came.
The Odau group sought refuge at Akyem Abuakwa from Asante retribution. We fled from Asuminya and took refuge in Akyem Abuakwa. The Okyenhene settled us in various islands within the Akyem Abuakwa State including Banka, Chia, Boadua, Pramkese among others providing intelligence work for the Akyem Army. And we have served diligently. These are historical facts and verifiable.” Opanyin Aniagyei noted.
The Aduana family stated without any ambiguity that their allegiance remains solely and wholly with the Okyenhene, His Royal Majesty Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, the overlord of Akyem Abuakwa.
“From time immemorial, our stool and allegiance have been subordinate to the Ofori Panin Stool. No Chief, however loud his voice or bold his declarations, can sever what customs and ancestry have joined us together over these centuries.
“We hereby state in no uncertain terms that we have never given our consent to any break away from Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council under the leadership of Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin and we never shall,” the family affirmed.
He said, the family will soon determine the fate of the Etweresohene in the face of his earlier action and take both legal and customary steps to bring the matter to finality.
‘This action of Ofosu Kwabi Ayebiahwe would have led us into war if we were in the olden days. Today, we use diplomacy, law, customs and tradition in resolving these issues and we shall use the same process to bring finality to this matter,” Opanyin Aniagyei noted.
A Daily Guide Report