A Presidential delegation made up of the National Security Minister, Albert Kan Dapaah, the Executive Secretary to the President, Nana Asante Bediatuo and National Security Co-ordinator, Joshua Kyeremeh, sent to Akropong-Akuapem in the Eastern region, was massively embarrassed yesterday in a new twist to the raging Okuapem chieftaincy crisis.
This happened, when some youth in the area, hooted at President Akufo-Addo’s delegation after the Okuapem Paramount Queenmother, had rejected two vehicles loaded with sheep and other items to pacify her to accept Oseeadeyo Kwesi Akuffo II, as the new Okuapemhene.
According to insiders, the Okuapem Queenmother, Nana Afua Nketiaa Obuo II, feels disrespected by some elements of the Akufo-Addo government from the area, who had used state power and armed state security men, including soldiers and policemen to install Odehyie Kwadwo Kesse Antwi as Okuapemhene.
The tough woman rejected the pleas of the Presidential delegation and drove them out of her residence, telling them to go and do the right thing.
The rejection, led to the youth hooting at the National Security Minister, the Executive Secretary to the President and the National Security Co-ordinator.
The delegation, led by Mr Kan-Dapaah and Nana Asante Bediatuo, who is a sub-chief from the Akyem Abuakwa, had travelled to Akropong with some 62 rams and 62 bottles of schnapps, to among others, plead with the Queenmother to withdraw a case she filed at the National House of Chiefs in Kumasi, against the installation of Odehye Kesse Antwi.
Several videos in the custody of The Herald, showed the youth, as well as elderly men and women at the residence of their Queenmother, registering their disapproval at the presence of the Jubilee House delegation.
In one of the videos, the entourage was seen stepping out of Nana Afua Nketiaa Obuo II’s house after their botched engagement with her, being jeered by the youth and their seniors, while walking to board their posh SUV cars amid the singing of war songs.
The charged atmosphere, also saw women chanting and pointed accusing fingers at Mr Kan-Dapaah and Mr Asante Bediatuo, who had their heads bowed, while being shielded by bodyguards to their cars. The delegation was also heckled by the angry youth.
Without a word, members of the delegation who wore face masks as result of the COVID-19, walked past the agitated youth with their eyes tightly fixed to the ground with shouts of “we won’t agree! “We won’t agree!! and “you have been disgraced” among others, the youth continued chanting until the President’s delegation disappeared from the scene in their various top speed cars.
While, Mr Asante Bediatuo, wore blue black political suit holding a walking stick, Mr Kan Dapaah, wore an all-white linen sleek attire.
The Presidency, has been accused of meddling in the chieftaincy issue with President Akufo-Addo’s Director of Research, Victor Newman, mentioned as playing a very vital role in the installation of Oseedeyo Kwesi Akuffo II, a charge they have vehemently denied, saying the installation was done solely by the kingmakers of the area.
However, one Lily Agyemang of the Newman House in Daakye, Akropong-Akuapem, said to be the “Abrewatia” was the one who dragged the Queenmother to the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, challenging her selection and installation of the Odehye Kwasi Akuffo as the Okuapemhene, as replacement for the late Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa III.
Odehyie Kwadwo Kesse, was installed on May 1, 2020, as Oseeadeyo Kwesi Akuffo II, to the displeasure of many Ghanaians.
It happened in the midst of the President’s ban on social gathering as a result of the deadly coronavirus pandemic, and weeks after their action, government went begging for forgiveness for disrespecting the Queenmother, and asking that the case at the National House of Chiefs in Kumasi, be withdrawn for peace to prevail.
The delegation upon arrival went into a long meeting with Nana Afua Nketiaa Obuo II, and her subjects. While in the said closed door meeting, the rams, schnapps and the rest of the delegation, waited in packed vehicles parked on the main Akropong-Akwapim -Accra highway.
One other video seen by this paper, showed the huge rams packed in an Eicher Truck with registration number GS479-10, and Toyota Hilux with registration number UE 11-14.
Two Toyota Land Cruiser’s registered 2459-17and NR 9912-17, respectively were seen parked in front of the house. Other cars, including a Toyota Prado, Nissan Patrol, Pickups, and so on, were seen at the residence of Nana Afua Nketiaa Obuo II.
The delegation, was given a tight security escort by uniformed Police Officers and a dispatch rider. But from what has been captured in the videos, the meeting did not go as expected, and they have since returned to Accra with their rams and schnapps.
It is unclear, where the 62 rams and the other items are now. It is also unclear, whether state cash was used in their procurement.
Meanwhile, documents filed by Nana Afua Nketiaa Obuo II and three others namely, Nana Kwesi Omenako II, Asonahene of Akuapem, Okromansa Amoah II Twafohene of Akropong and Odehye Kwesi Akuffo, are challenging the installation, arguing that the Judicial Committee of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs erred in declaring Odehyi Kesse as the eligible.
The document sent to the National House of Chief and seen by The Herald, insisted that in nominating a candidate, the Queen mother alone, cannot select a candidate from the Royal House, without the involvement of the Abrewatia, was also an error in law.
Aside the single suit by the four, there is another by one Obaapanin Obuo Yeboaa, also known as Georgina Yeboaa Akuffo, against the 36-year old Odehyi Kesse, who was paraded on the streets of Akropong-Akuapem, arguing that he is a “pretender” who should be prevented from holding himself as Okuapemhene and doubling as the Paramount Chief.
The Akropong-Akuapem, is the Paternal hometown of President Akufo-Addo, and many people are shocked he allowed one faction to do the installation, despite the raging crisis.
source: The Herald
