Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin
The Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, has described a document in circulation covered with his image under the caption “Agyapadeɛ” as a total fiction fabricated by those determined to create and fan a hate campaign against the Ofori Panin household and Okyeman.
The book, whose content suggests a detailed strategy aimed at positioning and maintaining Akyem people at commanding heights in all spheres of the Ghanaian economy, has popped up again, gaining prominence on some media houses in the country.
At the Akyem Abuakwa State Council meeting held over the weekend, the Okyenhene called on his kinsmen and Ghanaians to treat the book with the contempt it deserves.
He questioned which reasonable person in his right frame of mind hatches such an intention and documents it with his image as a cover page?
“We saw this during the period of J. B. Danquah and we’re seeing this now. In and around October 2016, about a few months to the election, the same document known as the ‘Akyem Project’ was in circulation.
“The focus of that was to fan hatred between Okyeman and Asanteman to undermine the electoral efforts of President Akufo-Addo. Unfortunately for them, it came too late to the election. This diabolic plan was revised in 2019.
“In the year 2020 when the Agyapa business became a political issue, the book suddenly metamorphosed into ‘Agyapadeɛ’,” the Okyenhene noted during the State Council meeting at Kyebi, Eastern Region.
Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin hinted that the Ofori Panin Fie was more prominent before President Akufo-Addo, and has not done anything extraordinary over the last 25 years that suggests that they’re elevating themselves above others.
He said the Eastern Region had more representation in former President John Agyekum Kufuor’s cabinet than President Akufo-Addo, adding that the hullabaloo going on is targeted at causing disaffection towards the Akyem people.
“Many Kingdoms have seen greater development over the years, but some people always have issues whenever government decides to bring development to Okyeman. I have heard things in recent times. The funniest of it is that, I am the richest chief in Ghana. I mean how? Anyway, when anyone regards you as a rich person, you must receive it. I receive it,” the Okyenhene said with a smile.
He emphasised that these are schemes to sow seeds of hatred for the Akyem people.
Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin maintained that, Okyeman has been great since its inception and will remain great in accordance with the will of God.
He said even though some prominent natives of Akyem have spent lots of their working life within Ghana’s public service, very little could be said about their contribution to the development of Okyeman.
He encouraged his kinsmen to stand and defend the name of Okyeman at all levels against hate speech and falsehood calculated to cause disaffection.
“Some people deliberately go to work just to denigrate Okyeman and make us look evil in the eyes of the public. But such people must remember that, they have families too. Will they be comfortable if such palpable lies are said about them and their generation?” Osagyefuo asked.