By William
Yaw Owusu
Thursday,
December 07, 2017
There is uneasy calm at Akropong Akuapem in the Eastern Region
following a reported installation and counter installation of a paramount chief
for the traditional area.
As a result, there is currently a heavy police presence at Akropong
to forestall any possible bloodshed.
Two factions have emerged from the Sakyebea Royal Family and each
is claiming to be the rightful gate to select the next Okuapemhene to succeed the
late Oseadeyo Addo Dankwah III, who ruled for 41 years before his demise.
Currently, Odehyie Kwasi Akuffo, a 63-year-old retired journalist
and businessman and one Nana Kesse, are being processed simultaneously to be installed
the paramount chief.
Odehyie Akuffo is being presented by Okuapemhemaa (queen mother) Nana
Afua Nketia Obuo II, while the Baamuhene, Nana Afari Bampoe, is backing Nana
Kesse, believed to be in his mid-30s and once domiciled in the United States.
According to Akuapem customs and traditions, before one is
enstooled a paramount chief of the traditional area, the person is supposed to go
through a four-stage process of nomination, selection, enstoolment and finally,
the installation; and it is the commencement of the process that is brewing
trouble in the town.
Matters came to a head when the selection process was started in
the palace of Nana Kwasi Omenako II, who is the head of the Akuapem Asona royal
family (Asonahene) on Tuesday.
The Okuapemhemaa introduced Kwasi Akuffo to the Asonahene as the
proposed successor to the late Omanhene and the nominee was sent to ‘Mogyawere,’
the palace of the Adumhene, Adu Panyin II, for confinement for about 40 days for
traditional tutelage.
In the process, the Baamuhene, in the company of Nana Osim Kwatia,
chief of Amanokrom and Akuapem Gyaasehene Nana Yaw Afari Bampoe, brought Kwadwo
Kesse, slaughtered sheep and spilled the blood on his feet to signify the selection
of another Akuapemhene.
They allegedly took over the palace and installed Kwadwo Kesse to
occupy the Omanahene’s Hall of the palace as a new paramount chief of the Akuapem
Traditional Area.
The police then stepped in as things were getting nasty, picked up
the Baamuhene, who has since been granted bail, and asked the other chiefs to vacate
the palace.
Later, the Municipal Chief Executive of Akuapem North, Dennis
Agyapong, told Citi FM in Accra that
the residents were in safe hands.
“There has been no casualty; there has been no quarrel; there has
been no fight. Everything has been peaceful as it should be. From the outset,
we have assured the people that their safety and security is paramount, so, we
just put in place measures to ensure that their property and lives are
protected,” he said.
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