Kwahu chieftaincy crisis: Eastern Regional House of Chiefs restrains Baffour Akoto Osei, 6 others
The Eastern Regional House of Chiefs has placed an interlocutory injunction on Baffour Akoto Osei from holding himself as the Omanhene of the Kwahu Traditional Area.
The Judicial Committee of the court, in its landmark ruling at Koforidua last Tuesday, also prevented six other individuals from holding Baffour Akoto Osei as the Paramount Chief of the area.
Per the injunction, Baffour Akoto Osei is prohibited from assuming, adopting or presenting himself under the stool name Daasebre Akuamoah Boateng III or from purporting to be the Omanhene — referred to as Kwahumanhene — of the Kwahu Traditional Area.
All the seven respondents are further restrained from engaging in acts that may 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.
The six are 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.
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 follows 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 now acts 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 Oware Agyekum III, Paramount Chief of Akyem Bosome, with Oklepeme Nuer Anobaah Sasraku II, Konor of Yilo Klo Traditional Area, and Akusiaku Brempong Kumi Sasraku VIII, Paramount Chief of Anum Traditional Area, as members.
Reaction
When reached, spokesperson of the Kingmakers, Akyeamehene Nana Asiedu Kwabeng IV, said the Kwahu Traditional Council would be filing an appeal to the National House of Chiefs and other courts that had the appropriate jurisdiction.
Background
Baffour Akoto Osei, from the Etena Family of Nkwatia, was enstooled as Kwahumanhene with the stool name Daasebre Akuamoah Boateng III as successor to Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II, who had been deemed to have been destooled.
The matter has apparently refused to die, with the case tabled before relevant institutions for adjudication.
Writer's email:haruna.wunpini@graphic.com.gh
