The chiefs at the Akwasidae durbar
The chief of Kwahu Abetifi in the Eastern Region, Akyemfour Asiedu Agyemang III, who doubles as the Acting President of the Kwahu Traditional Council, has indicated that the enstoolment of Professor Badu Akosa, Executive Director of Healthy Ghana and senior member of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), at Kwahu Abene, was against the cultural traditions of Kwahuman.
Akyeamfour Agyemang Asiedu III, speaking during the Akwasidae celebration at Abene on Sunday, said it’s against the norms and culture of Kwahuman for someone to impose himself as a paramount chief on the people without going through the proper processes, describing the incident as illegal seizure of power – “coup d’etat.”
Professor Badu Akosa was reportedly enstooled with the help of the Werempemhene of Abene at dawn last week Thursday after going through some rites, but without the involvement of the other kingmakers of Abene.
At a press conference at Abetifi last Friday, agitating chiefs of Kwahu said Professor Badu Akosa was illegally enstooled and so they could not recognize him as the chief of Abene or paramount chief.
The Acting President of the Kwahu Traditional Council expressed bitterness over the matter, explaining that although Professor Badu Akosa is an indigene of the town, he is not the rightful heir to the Abene throne. He also registered his disappointment in Prof Akosa, former President of the Ghana Medical Association and flag bearer aspirant for the CPP.
Since the demise of the paramount chief of the Kwahuman Traditional Area, Daasebre Akuamoah Boateng III, in September 2014, kingmakers of Kwahu have not been able to enstool a successor due to disagreements over the rightful person to fill the vacuum created.
Akyeamfour Agyeman Asiedu III explained briefly the process of enstooling a chief at Kwahu, stating that after the demise of a chief, a gathering is held by the Adehyehene and the people from the royal family in collaboration with the queen mother, to discuss and choose the rightful heir to the throne.
After the heir is chosen, he is presented to the queen mother of Kwahu for thorough vetting and approval.
Afterwards, the Werempemhene, Baamuhene, Gyaasehene and Akyeamehene, led by the Krontihene, present the chosen heir to the people of Kwahu.
The heir is finally presented to the Adontenhene and the Adonten Council consisting of the Bretuo and the Agona clans who in turn inform the Nifahene and the Benkumhene before the customary rites are performed for the candidate to become the Kwahumanhene.
FROM Daniel Bampoe, Kwahu – Abene