Destooled chief Kwahu Nkwatia in the Easten region, Nana BoamahAyiripe II, has defied the orders of the Judicial Committee of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs to vacate the palace.
The Registrar of the House of Chiefs has been directed to take over the palace and put it under lock and key but that is yet to be done.
This paper is reliably informed, however, that in the coming days which could fade into weeks, the Registrar may be storming the palace in the company of police to throw the destooled chief out.
Recall that the order was issued in a ruling granting an interlocutory injunction application filed by the Queen mother of Kwahu Nkwatia -Nana AgyeiwaaKodie II, and nine (9) others, seeking an order of interlocutory injunction restraining ,the respondents including the new Chief of Nkwatia either by themselves ,agents ,assigns ,workmen ,personal representatives or assigns from dealing with or doing anything at the Chief’s Palace -Nkwatia in any manner whatsoever pending the final determination.
“In considering the application therefore, Nananom will grant the application restraining the Respondents from dealing with or doing anything at the Chief’s Palace at Nkwatia on any manner or whatsoever pending final determination of this appeal,”the ruling stated.
“However, in order to preserve the stool property affected by this dispute and in order that the Palace will be fully secured, Nananom hereby orders the Registrar of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs to take possession of the Palace until the final determination of the Appeal”.
The paper learnt that a protracted chieftaincy dispute rendered the Kwahu-Nkwatia Stool vacant for three years after the death of Nana AtuobiYiadom IV in 2016 who reigned for 60 years.
Nana BoamahAyiripe II was eventually enstooled as Chief of Kwahu -Nkwatia in October 2020 by the Krontihene of Kwahu Nkwatia -Nana Odei Tutu Ababio and section of stool elders and kingmakers under heavily armed military and police protection.
The Queen mother, Nana AgyeiwaaKodie II and nine other stool elders filed a petition against the Krontihene and four elders who selected, nominated and enstooled Nana BoamahAyiripe II as Chief of NKwatia challenging their traditional legitimacy in enstooling Nkwatiahene without her involvement.
She prayed the Judicial Committee to place a perpetual injunction restraining Nana BoamahAyiripe II from holding himself as Chief of Nkwatia.
The petition was however dismissed by the Judicial Committee of Kwahu Traditional Council on October 16,2020, and among others declared that Nana BoamahAyiripe II was duly elected, nominated and enstooled therefore must continue with processes to swear an oath of allegiance before the Head of BenkumDivision of Kwahu within three days from the day of Judgement and take steps to swear to the Omanhene of Kwahu traditional council which were done.
The Queenmother and the nine other stool elders lodged an appeal application at the Judicial Council of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs and subsequently filed application for interlocutory injunction on November 20,2020against NanaBoamahAyiripeII fromcarrying himself as chief of Nkwatia which has been granted in a ruling delivered on March 24,2021 by the Judicial committee pending the final determination of the substantive case.
