The spokesperson for Okoman Council of Akuapem Traditional Area in the Eastern Region, Nana Kwao Kutruku V, has warned chiefs in the area who have been compromised by politicians through bribery to skew ruling in favour of persons not qualified to be the Okuapenhene to desist from such acts.
Ahead of judgement tomorrow on a chieftaincy issue in the area which has dragged on for years, Nana Kwao Kutruku V disclosed that it was one of such bribery allegations which prompted the council to file a motion at the National House of Chiefs (NHC) to determine the rightful person to sit on the Akuapem stool.
However, “without addressing the motion of the bribery allegation, we are suddenly invited to Kumasi this Thursday September 29th, for judgement in the substantive case,” Nana Kwao Kutruku indicated, adding that “we shall not sit to allow this injustice to be perpetuated, we want peace in Okuapeman for development to go on.”
He intimated that unity is key to the development of the community, that without peace there could never be development, saying “we want to work in peace, truth, justice and fairness. Let’s walk the talk.”
The spokesperson explained that chieftaincy is a noble institution and therefore should not be allowed by politicians to destroy it.
“Politicians should stop creating tension in Okuapeman, for your eight years leadership you want people to kill themselves, the people are hungry and cannot have peace all you do is to empower people to threaten and unleash guns on them,” Nana Kutruku added.
He also called on our leaders to use the power given to them judiciously and not against those who gave them the power.
Nana Kwao Kutruku was speaking at a press conference in Accra to register their displeasure about the happening in Okuapeman as far as chieftaincy issues were concerned.
“From where we sit, it is obvious that there was no end in sight in resolving the disputes as long as there continue to be political interference in the matter hence our resolve for the press conference”, he said.
According to Nana Kutruku per the Akan customs and traditional rites, it was the sole responsibility of the queen mother to nominate a successor with the relevant processes after the demise of a chief but with the case of Okuapeman, after the death of Oseadeayo Addo Dankwa III on July 2015, an ‘ imposter’ was been imposed on Okuapeman with the support of powers that be.
