Dispute over chieftaincy stool: Tight security in Kwahu
National Security is beefing up security in Kwahu in the wake of the ruling by the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs in the matter relating to the occupancy of the Kwahu stool.
The purported destoolment of Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II from the Kwahuman stool and the subsequent enstoolment of Baffour Akoto Osei in his place are said to have raised tensions in the area.
Unimpeachable sources have informed the Daily Graphic that National Security has subsequently instructed the Eastern Regional Security Council to conduct 24-hour surveillance in the area, particularly around the Abene Palace in the traditional area.
The measure is to contain any possible skirmishes or violence by rival factions in the chieftaincy dispute.
While the area has remained calm so far, the National Security measure appears to be a proactive action based on intelligence as tempers rise over the appropriate occupant of the Kwahuman stool.
Indeed, the different sources indicated that aides close to Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II had petitioned National Security for tighter security to protect the peace in the area.
Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II was deemed to have been destooled last year by persons purporting to act on behalf of the relevant traditional authority.
Baffour Akoto Osei, from the Etena Family of Nkwatia, was later enstooled as Kwahumanhene with the stool name Daasebre Akuamoah Boateng III as the supposed successor to Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II.
Interlocutory injunction
The Eastern Regional House of Chiefs last month issued an interlocutory injunction restraining Baffour Akoto Osei from presenting himself as the Omanhene of the Kwahu Traditional Area.
The Judicial Committee of the court, in its landmark ruling in Koforidua, also prevented six other individuals from holding Baffour Akoto Osei as the Paramount Chief of the area.
The six were the Krontihene of Abene, Nana Simpe Owiredu III; Akyeamehene of Abene, Nana Asiedu Kwabeng IV; Baamuhene of Abene, Nana Ntim Sampong II; Werempehene of Abene, Baffour Nyarko Kyerefuor II; Nana Odame Ansong and Okyeame Akuoko Boateng.
Per the injunction, Baffour Akoto Osei was prohibited from assuming, adopting or presenting himself under the stool name Daasebre Akuamoah Boateng III or from purporting to be the Omanhene of the Kwahu Traditional Area, referred to as Kwahumanhene.
All seven respondents were further restrained from engaging in acts that might undermine, obstruct or interfere with the customary authority or privileges of Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II, the gazetted and lawfully recognised Omanhene of Kwahu, particularly at his official palace in Abene.
Judicial Committee
The Judicial Committee underscored the cardinal principle of Ghanaian customary law that no two persons may concurrently occupy the same paramountcy.
The committee stated that it was, therefore, in the interest of peace, stability and lawful traditional governance that it deemed it necessary to preserve the status quo pending the final determination of the substantive matter.
The committee affirmed that any purported parallel installation while there was a validly installed and gazetted chief constituted a flagrant breach of customary law and the Chieftaincy Act, 2008 (Act 759).
The ruling followed a recent surge in tension within the Kwahu Traditional Council, driven by factional attempts to unseat Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II as the Omanhene, supposedly without adherence to due process.
The Judicial Committee’s intervention appeared to have acted as a stabilising measure, aiming to avert further disruption to traditional leadership in the Kwahu area.
The three-member Judicial Committee was chaired by Okotwaasuo Kantamanto Oworae Agyekum III, the Paramount Chief of Akyem Bosome, with Oklepeme Nuer Anobaah Sasraku II, Konor of Yilo Klo Traditional Area, and Akusiaku Brempong Kumi Sasraku VIII, the Paramount Chief of Anum Traditional Area, as members.
