THE ABREWATIA of the Sakyiabea Royal family and elders of the Sakyiabea Royal Family of Akropong Akuapem, the Royal gate that is clothed in authority to present Akuapem with the next Okuapehene, on last twos week’s sunday, at a family meeting poured libation and slaughtered a sheep to disown one Odehye Kwadwo Kesse Antwi as a family member and a self-styled Okuapehene of the Akuapem Traditional Area, Under the Name Oseadeeyo Kwasi Akuffo 111.According to Abrewatia Georgina Obuo Yeboaa. The said Kwadwo Kesse Antwi is not a Royal from the Sakyiabea Royal lineage. Nobody knows him as a Royal in the family and that it was her late two cousins, Lilly Agyeman and sister Teiko who introduced him to the family.
‘This uncustomary act of the late Lilly Agyeman the former Abrewatia, gave birth to protracted litigation between the Okuapehemea Nana Afua Obuo Nketiaa II, the Queen mother of the Akuapem Traditional Area. Nana Afua Nketiaa Obuo II together with Nana Kwasi Omenako II, the Asonahene of the Akuapem Traditional Area and the late Adumhene – Nana Addo Panyin who followed the due process to install an Okuapehene (Paramount Chief of Akuapem) on December 5, 2017. The candidate Installed was in the name of Odehye Fredrick Kwasi Akuffo, giving credence to the fact that Akuapems are noted for their calm and civil co-existence.
‘Okuapeman has a great opportunity to demonstrate to the rest of the country and the world at large that it is more united, has fellow feelings, orderliness, and respect for authority and due process. Indeed, Okuapeman has the opportunity to solidify its reputation as “home of discipline”.
Currently, it’s the turn of the Sakyiabea royal family to choose the next Okuapehene. This, everybody in Akuapem accepts. Per the Akuapem Tradition and Customs it’s the Queen mother’s role to appoint an Okuapehene as tradition demands. According to the road map, the Okuapehemea would, select the ‘fit and proper Odehye’, and inform the kingmakers that they now have a legitimate candidate for consideration. All these processes she followed.
But this is not because of the usual controversy and bitter litigation over the royal lineage of the contesting candidates and the legitimacy of the royal families vying for the new Okuapehene disrespecting what Okuapehemea has already done. Some traditionalists in the area have been explaining that the process of appointing and enstooling a Chief has been characterized by dispute over the past 100 years.
Once a stool or skin becomes vacant, greed and self-interest take the better part of the kingmakers/elders (the very people who should know better) and we see them slapping truth in the face, side-stepping custom, tradition and laid down process which end up creating confusion on which and from which they gladly feed at the expense of peace and development of their communities.
The tension and anxiety began when the Banmuhene and his accomplices arrogated to themselves and also tried installing a second deeply tattooed candidate, Odehye Kwadwo Kesse Antwi, who is decorated with tattooed arms to waist as the next occupant of the sacred seat. His installation has become a radical shift from the immediate past Omanhene, the late Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa III, who was installed the Paramount Chief of the Akuapem Traditional Area in 1974 at the age of 44 and reigned continuously for 41 years before passing on in August 2015.
Ever since Kwadwo Kesse Antwi and his cohorts have acted against the tradition and custom of the people of Akuapem, of whom he wants to lead. He is not a royal from the family and is a stranger from Akyem – Begro. His actions and inactions since he was allegedly sworn in by the Banmuhene are thwarting the development of the area, thus necessitating his removal from the Royal Family, so that peace can prevail.
The Sakyiabea Royal Family of Akropong, who are supposed to present a Candidate for the position of the Omanhene do not accept Kwadwo Kesse Antwi as a member of the family, and therefore cannot be a candidate for the Paramount Chief of Akuapem.
The late King of the Akuapem Traditional Area occupied the scared seat of Akuapem Asona, one of the seven major Akan clans – for 41 years. He is, therefore, reputed to be the longest reigning Okuapehene since the formation of the Akuapem State. But the Banmuhene with no locus in this matter tried defying the time-tested tradition of disqualifying royals ‘tainted’ by scars and marks on the skin and insisting on imposing a young candidate with tattoos on the body, which is considered a sacrilege and forbidden in the traditional area. Who has been disqualified?
The Akuapem paramountcy has been characterized by strife and dissension since 1907. Records at the National Archives indicate that in 1895 when Nana F.W. Kwasi Akuffo took over the mantle from his uncle, he struggled to rule until he gave way to Nana Owusu Ansah in October 1907, who also had a difficult tenure till 1914 when he bowed out.
Nana Ofori Kuma II took over in 1914 from his elder brother, Nana Owusu Ansah, and faced similar internal and external wrangling till he bowed out eventually in June 1919.
For four years, there was no king in Akuapem; it was not because there was no qualified candidate but because different groups of Osiahene had their interests. Litigation and dissension followed.
By: Kwesi Mensah Afari
