Akyem Kwabeng Residents Demo Against Okyehene Over Chieftaincy Dispute

By David Kodjo, Atiwa

Residents of Akyem Kwabeng in the Atiwa West District of the Eastern Region, demonstrated against the Okyehene Amoatia Ofori Panin over a chieftaincy dispute, when he toured the area, in connection with his 20th anniversary of his rule.

He was embarking on a tour to 16 towns as part of activities to commemorate his 20th anniversary of enstoolment.

The followers of one of the disputing factions, the Asona Akanwenem family, paraded themselves along the road carrying placards with the inscriptions, 'The Okyehene does not install a chief for Kwabeng', 'Okyehene leave Kwaben to develop', 'Nkansah Agyare, go to Anyinam, your hometown', among others.

Meanwhile, the security guards accompanying the Okyehene and his entourage to the town dispersed the protesters amidst firing of warning shots.

The incident resulted in many of the protesters both male and females sustaining various injuries, while other spectators took cover for their safety.

The Kwabeng Stool is the Gyaase Division of Akyem Abuakwa, which is synonymous to the role of a Chief of Staff in democratic presidential governance, which makes the stool crucial to the effective functioning of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council.

Speaking about the development, the Okyehene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, said his ultimate goal was to ensure peace, unity, love and respect for one another in Akyem.

He said that Okyeman has laid down rules to enstool and distool a chief and would not compromise that.

The Okyehene said said "the Supreme Court in its ruling declared all three royal families of Kwabeng as legitimate heirs of the Kwabeng stool and documented that it should be rotational between the three royal families of Kwabeng".

The Okyehene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin said based on the ruling, he only knows Nana Ayimadu II as the recognised chief of Akyem Kwabeng.

"All the chiefs of Akyem Abuakwa have gathered today to announce that any family that want to thwart the peace of this area, we shall deal with them," he said.

Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin said: "I am giving the family a four-day ultimatum to come to my palace at Kyebi and render apology or in default, I will document in my archives that the Asona Akanwenem family is not part of royal families in this area."

"If you are a police officer or a political leader, abstain from chieftaincy affairs but the District Chief Executive of Atiwa West will hear from me for indulging in the chieftaincy affairs in the area," Osagyefo fumed.

Prior to Okyehene's comment, the chief of Kwabeng Nana Ayimadu II, pleaded for forgiveness of the disturbance that welcomed his arrival, saying, "Okyehene, I want to plead with you to find a lasting solution to instill peace among the chiefs and people of Kwabeng."

The two main factions-Asona Akanwenem and Mmabaduam families both installed parallel chiefs while the Asona Akanwenem family swiftly installed Brigadier General C.K.A.A Awity, a military officer with the stool name Daasebre Oti Bruku II.

The Mmabaduam family also enstooled Addison Kwabena Boateng Nuamah, with the stool the name Nana Ayimadu Kantamantu II on June 6, 2018.

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