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Regional News of Wednesday, 20 August 2014

Source: Curtis Addo/New Crusading Guide

Twum Debrah confirmed as Kade Chief

It’s official! The next time you come across Yaw Twum Debrah, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Brookland of Ghana Limited, be mindful to refer to him by his stool name: Osaberimah Asare Twe II, as he is now the confirmed legitimate chief of Kade, in the Eastern Region.

His installation on December 31, 2013, at the palace of Okyehene Amoatia Ofori Panin, threw the whole Kibi and Kade Townships into jubilant moods as they watched their new Chief, holding the hilt of the symbol of power of Kademan, and swearing before the Kibi Abontendonghene of the Akyem Abuakwa Royal Stool, Osaberimah Boakye Dankwah, and the packed crowd that with the exception of sickness, he is ready to serve Kademan in every capacity within his power.

He was carried shoulder-high across the length and breath of the Kibi Township after he was installed as the chief by jubilant youth from Kade who had thronged the palace to witness the installation.

The Kibi Abontendong hene who represented Okyehene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin also assured Kademan that, as long as they continued to respect the customs of the land and not misbehave, Okyeman was ready to defend them to the hilt.

Osaberimah Asare Twe II’s installation comes on the back of the ruling of Thursday, December 5, 2013, that Osaberimah Agyare Tenadu II, the beleaguered Chief of Kade be ousted and a new chief installed with immediate effect.

More so, Osabarima Agyare Tenadu II, the man who was also laying claim to the Kade stool has been granted bail in the sum of Ghc10, 000, with one surety to be justified, by the Oda District Court for allegedly threatening the life of the Kade District Police Commander, Superintendent of Police Mr. Stephen Delaporte.

The facts of the case, as presented by the prosecutor, Assistant Supt of Police Mr Joe Mike Adams, were that the Oda Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent James Sarfo-Peprah, represented the Inspector General of Police at the burial of the late Chief Supt Emmanuel Kwame Darko Appiakorang (retd) in Kade on July 20, 2014.

He said during the funeral, the police had information that the Kwaebibirem District Security Committee (DISEC) had debarred Osabarima Tenadu from attending the funeral in their capacities as chiefs to promote peace in the area.

Mr. Adams said Chief Supt Sarfo-Peprah, therefore, went to Osabarima Tenadu’s residence to advise him to adhere to the DISEC order by not attending the funeral in his capacity as a chief.

He said Osabarima Tenadu defied the DISEC order and said nobody could prevent him from attending the funeral in his capacity as a chief.

He said Osabarima Tenadu also told Chief Supt Sarfo-Peprah that he would kill Mr. Delaporte wherever he met him.

According to Mr Adams, when Mr Delaporte was informed about the death threat, he lodged a complaint with the police for fear of his life.

He said the Oda Divisional Police Command issued criminal summons to Osabarima Tenadu on August 8, 2014 to appear before the Oda District Magistrate Court yesterday, after he had ignored an invitation to the Oda Police to assist in investigations into the matter on three occasions.

ASP Adams pleaded with the court to remand Osabarima Tenadu in prison custody to enable the police to complete their investigations, as he would tamper with investigations if he was freed.

Osabarima Tenadu, who pleaded not guilty to the charge, will reappear before the court, presided over by Mr. Kwesi Appiatse Abaidoo, on August 21, 2014.

Meanwhile, it would be recalled that, Obaapanyin Akua Fosua, Abusuapanyin Otibu Asare, Nana Banchie Darko Ampem, Krontihene, Asafoatse Kofi Tinyase and Asafoatse Yaw Danso on 9th October 2012, called on the council to address the violation of the traditional oath and failure by the chief to uphold all norms required of him as chief of the town.

They alleged that the chief, who was a defendant in the matter, had violated the code of ethics governing the chieftaincy institution and that the refusal of the kingmakers from taking the necessary action, allowed any principal to institute that action.

To support their stand, they referred to the ruling by the Judicial Committee of the Akyem Abuakwa council on the 1st of May, 2001 in the matter of Nana Kwame Fanti Aduamoah II, Asonafohene of Kade (plaintiff) Vrs Nana Agyakoran Adutwum II Kadehene (Defendant) which plaintiff tendered as exhibit “A” attached to their Affidavit in support.

According to them “the Ghana law report of 1977 page 348 paragraph 3 supports the contention that even the Krontihene alone who is a kingmaker can bring up an action”.

The defendant (Osaberima Agyare Tenadu II) pleaded not guilty of all the charges against him. He stated that all the charges leveled against him by the plaintiffs were unfounded.

The ousted chief argued that that the claim of embezzlement against him was absolute and that the bank statement the defendant tendered in court as exhibit did not tally with any transaction of the Kade Stool Account.

The Chairman of the Judicial Committee of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council, Osaberima Kwame Koh II, giving his ruling at a sitting at Ofori Panyin Fie in Kibi, noted that the judicial committee found the Chief guilty of 14; out of the 17 charges leveled against him.

Also, the committee ruled that the exhibit by the defendant (Osaberimah Agyare Tenadu II) did not relate to the matter before the judicial committee and ordered for a custom to be performed to destool the defendant and a replacement made by the kingmakers.

The council also ordered Osaberimah Agyare Tenadu II, to hand over all the stool paraphernalia to the Abusuapanyin for safe keeping until a new Chief was enstooled.

The council further warned the ousted chief not to present himself as the Chief of Kade to the stool land office at Koforidua for the purpose of collecting “royalties”, and was also asked to pay GHC 5,000.00 as penalty to the court.