Denkyira paramount chief selection gathers steam - Final decision soon
The important ancient city of Denkyira has been without a chief for 10 years, and the process to select a successor to Odeefoo Boa Amponsem III is earnestly underway.
The Queenmother of Denkyira, Nana Ama Ayensua Saara III, who is customarily clothed with the mandate to select the Denkyirahene, publicly gave an assurance in January this year, to the people that a final decision would be made by the end of the first quarter of this year.
With the first quarter now ended, some indigenes are mounting pressure, asking questions and calling for the process to be fast-tracked, given that the ancient traditional kingdom had suffered a setback for over two decades when the late Denyirahene became indisposed.
Daily Graphic checks have revealed that three contenders are in the lead, namely Lawrence Agyinsam, who is the immediate past Chief Executive Officer of Ghana EXIM Bank, the Member of Parliament for Hemang Lower Denkyira, Oscar Kessie, a brother of the queen mother who selects the chief, and a legal practitioner, Paul Ankamah.
The leading candidates
Mr Agyinsam, 58, a seasoned banker with over 30 years of experience in the financial sector, holds a Master of Busines Administration (MBA) degree in Finance from Leicester University, UK.
As a royal from the Agona clan of Denkyira, he meets the traditional criteria for the role.
Mr Agyinsam is a very popular figure, particularly in the Lower Denkyira enclave, due to his numerous developmental projects and businesses in Jukwa.
These include construction of a state-of-the-art Astroturf at Jukwa, a hotel and other local businesses that have created jobs for the people.
He also offers various support to the needy, widows and orphans across the district.
His political experience and extensive professional background have positioned him as a formidable contender but they also introduce complexities to the decision-making process.
On the other hand, Mr Kessie, 74, is a businessman who owns Bankam FM, a radio station based in Jukwa. He is also the Managing Partner of NASAA Company Limited, a fish importation business.
He holds an O’ Level certificate from the Boa Amponsem Secondary School (BOASS), and participated in several seminars and has business workshops.
However, his candidacy has drawn scrutiny, as insiders say his close family relationship with the queenmother, coupled with the fact that he is a direct nephew of the immediate past
Denkyirahene, Odeefoo Boa Amponsem III, imply that Mr Kessie, the queenmother and the late Odeefo Boa Amponsem come from the same gate.
Mr Ankamah, the third candidate, is an astute legal practitioner who comes from the Denkyira bloc in Juaben-Ashanti. It must be stated that Denkyiras are scattered all over the country.
A member of the Royal Agona Family, Mr Ankamah traces his route to the Denkyira stool, and is as qualified as any Denkyira royal anywhere to occupy the stool.
Selection process
The selection process has generated considerable debate, with concerns raised about the queenmother’s influence.
Sources close to the deliberations point out that being her brother, there was the tendency for the queenmother to tilt towards choosing her brother to emerge as the paramount chief, but
they said any such move was likely to meet resistance from some kingmakers.
The analysts said there was a school of thought that it would be inappropriate for both the Denkyirahemaa and the Denkyirahene to hail from the same family or royal house.
“You cannot have the queenmother and the king both from the same family. Among the Denkyira people, that is not how it works,” a source familiar with the process explained.
Despite the significance of the selection, many within the traditional area remain uninformed about the ongoing deliberations.
“The process has dragged on for a very long time, as a result, it seems people are not even interested or do not even know what is happening,” another source noted.
Political, economic implications
On the flip side, Mr Agyinsam’s selection as paramount chief would have direct political consequences, as he would be required to vacate his parliamentary seat, triggering a by-election in the Hemang Lower Denkyira Constituency.
Local politicians and party strategists are closely watching the process, given the potential shift in political representation.
“The moment Lawrence gets the nomination as the paramount chief, he would have to step down from Parliament, and then a by-election would be triggered,” a source stated.
For Mr Kessie, watchers say his ability to manage the responsibilities of the paramountcy, given his age, remain a concern.
They said while his business experience was acknowledged, questions persist about whether he possessed the leadership acumen and the strength required for such a role.
“Oscar Kessie does not have the wits to carry the whole paramountcy along” a source familiar with the process commented.
Meanwhile, there are some challenges that are likely to confront the next Denkyirahene.
This is because for over two decades, the Denkyira kingdom has been bedevilled with a leadership vacuum given that the late Odeefoo Boa Amponsem was unwell for a long time prior to his demise.
Thus, the next Denkyira paramount chief has a herculean task of uniting and rebuilding the Kingdom of Denkyira to their glorious days and ensure rapid development.
The next chief will also be confronted with galamsey issues that are rampant in the Upper Denkyira enclave, causing massive environmental, social and economic havoc.
