The Queen mother of Akuapem Traditional Area, Nana Afua Nketia Obuo II and the Asonahene, Nana Kwasi Omenako II have filed a Writ at the High Court in Koforidua, seeking an Order for Contempt against the installation of one Odehye Kwadwo Kesse Antwi as the Akuapemhene.
In an Affidavit in Support of their Motion, the Petitioners, Nana Afua Nketia Obuo II and the Asonahene, Nana Kwasi Omenako II are also seeking a restraining order directed at the Akuapem Traditional Council, Eastern Regional House of Chiefs and the National House of Chiefs from processing any Application purporting to gazette the 2nd Respondent (Odehye Kwadwo Kesse Antwi) as the Okuapehene.
In Suit No. DI6/99/2020 filed 12 June 2020, the Applicant indicated that the Respondents (Lily Agyemang 1st and Odehye Kwadwo Kesse Antwi 2nd) have are in gross contempt of a Judicial Service Order which nullified the nomination, election and enstoolment of the 4th Respondent in an earlier Petition (Odehye Kwasi Akuffo) as Okuapehene to succeed the late Oseadeeyo Addo Kwasi Dankwa III on the grounds that the process culminating in the installation under the stool name Nana Obuobi Atiemo II was not carried out in accordance with custom and hence null and void.
It was stated that the Judicial Committee of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs gave a judgment in the matter on a Petition brought before it, where the Committee directed the 1st Applicant in this present case, Nana Afua Nketiaa Obuo II who is the Queenmother of the Akuapem Traditional Area and also the key person with the customary constitutional responsibility to nominate a candidate to mount the Ofori Stool as Okuapehene.
She was given the authority to conduct the entire process of selection, nomination and election afresh, in consultation with the 2nd Applicant, Nana Kwasi Omenako II who is also the Asonahene of Akuapem.
The 2nd Applicant, in strict compliance with the orders of the judgment directed the Abusuapanyin of the Sakyiabea Ruling House to convene a meeting of the Mmeampanyinfo for the selection of a suitable candidate (s) for their names (s) to be forwarded to the 1st Applicant by the 2nd Applicant.
Meanwhile, on May 1, 2020, the 1st Respondent, Madam Lily Agyemang disregard the Committee’s order and went ahead to select and nominate 2nd Respondent, Odehye Kwadwo Kesse Antwi, for enstoolment as the purported Okuapehene.
According to the Applicants, the 1st Respondent unilaterally bypassed the 1st Applicant who has the sole prerogative and power to nominate an Okuapehene and hence, contravened the clear directive contained in the order by the Judicial Committee in its judgment of the 30th of April 2020.
“The conduct of the Respondents was willful, unacceptable, reprehensible, and contemptuous and is in flagrant disregard and disrespect of the orders of the Judicial Committee of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs and continues contempt of Court,” the Affidavit stated.
