All customary processes for Okuapehene selection followed— Asona Royal Family

The Asona Royal Family of Akropong-Akuapem says it has observed all the customary processes for the selection and installation of Odehye Frederick Kwasi Akuffo, a trained journalist and businessman, as the 26th Okuapehene.

The Okuapehene-elect will succeed Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa III, who passed away about two years ago.

According to the family, the only snag was the confusion that erupted near the palace of the Krontihene at Akropong on December 5, 2017, when a procession of chiefs and people who were on their way to slaughter a ram to pave the way for the confinement of the Okuapehene-elect was attacked with stones and bottles by some people.

News conference

The Okuapehene Akyeamehene, Nana Aduna II, speaking on behalf of the Asona Royal Family at a news conference at Akropong last Tuesday, said: “I would like to state that all customary processes have been observed.”

That included, he said, a ceremony at Akropong-Akuapem on December 5, 2017, where the Queenmother of the Okuapeman Traditional Area, Nana Afua Nketiaa Obuo II, together with the Asonahene, Nana Kwasi Omenako II, and the Adumhene, Nana Addo Payin, went through the customary processes towards the installation of Mr Akuffo as Okuapehene.

Confusion, however, erupted when the Bamuhene attempted to install a rival candidate known as Nana Kwasi Ohene Kessieh.

The Akyeamehene, however, told journalists that there was no cause for alarm as due process was followed for Mr Akuffo’s nomination.

History

Walking the media through history and tradition, Nana Aduna said the position of the Okuapehene had always come from the Asona Royal Family of Akropong, particularly the Gyankroma lineage, since 1730.

“Currently, there are three lineages of this same Asona Royal Family at Akropong called Nketiaa, Amma Ogyaa and Sakyiabea. They are all originally from one woman, Gyankroma,” he mentioned.

The Akyeamehene said the Okuapehemaa had the singular privilege of being responsible for nominating one of the qualified and suitable Asona royals as Okuapehene in consultation with the Sakyiama Royal Family.

Current status

According to the Akyeamehene, once the queenmother nominated the Okuapehene–elect, the process moved away from an Asona family matter to an Akuapem state matter, and Nana Nketiaa Obuo did that on December 5, 2017, stating: “This is in accordance with Akan tradition and for that matter Akuapem tradition.”

Nana Aduna indicated that there was a vetting process for the Okuapehene-elect which went on behind the scenes with certain elders in Akuapem.

He said customarily once the Okuapehemaa officially mentioned the name of the nominee for the position of Okuapehene, the Akyeamehene, in the company of some Asona elders, sent the leader of a delegation to present the nominee to the Asona elders.

“Thereafter, Okuapehene Akyeamehene leads the Okuapehene-elect to meet with the Ankobeahemaa, who is the leader of advisors to the Okuapehene, while the Ankobeahene then hands the nominee to Gyasefo in front of the Okuapehene’s palace where rituals take place,” he observed.

Representing the Okuapehemaa at the news conference was her secretary, Mr Kwabena Apenteng.

About Odehye Kwasi Akuffo

The Okuapehene-elect was born on May 8, 1954 to Oheneba Kwasi Fianko Akuffo and Odehye Georgina Obuo Yeboah of the Sakyibea Royal family of Akropong.

He is a private businessman.

Odehye Kwasi Akuffo, who is currently in confinement, will be enstooled at a later date when he will be given a stool name.