Regional News of Tuesday, 21 October 2014

Source: n. kwaku solomon

Installation of Apapam chief lawful – Kingmakers

The Kingmakers of Akyem Apapam has finally cleared the air and stated that the installation of Osabarima Opoku Manya II was lawful and that due process was followed according to the customary rites of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area is concern.

Though, the kingmakers of Akyem Apapam have expressed dismay over the sharp u-turn of Kukurantumihene who doubles as the Adontenhene of the area, Daasebre Boamah Darko, together with Apedwahene and Abontendomhene of Kyebi who according to the former endorsed the installation of Osabarima Opoku Manya II as the new Chief of Akyem – Apapam and that they were surprise the same person should come out to declare the installation null and void.

Speaking in an interview, the elders and kingmakers of the area explained that, before a chief is enstooled, he has to first be nominated by the members of the royal clan, vetted and accepted by the community.

According to them, in the tradition of Akyem Abuakwa state, the Okyehene did not enstool chiefs but rather chiefs were enstooled by their respective kingmakers in accordance to custom and later the chief is presented to Okyehene. To this, Opanin Frimpong, Krotihene of Akyem Apapam and Odehyia Kwasi Boapem have therefore challenged the Okyeman Council to point out to them where they fell short of tradition.

Even though, they acknowledge the Okyehene as the overlord of the area, they maintained that they would not accept the position of the council and asked the general public to treat the released from the Okyeman Council with the contempt it deserves.

They further disclosed that, there is a frantic effort of some chiefs in the traditional area to impose a certain Nana Yaw on the people of Akyem – Apapam which they said would be a blood shell if they dare to do so.

They are therefore calling on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the security agencies to immediately intervene since they would apply equal force to any external force that would be brought on the community.

The kingmakers however, make it clear in the interview that they have enstooled a chief already according to the traditions Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area demand by following the due processes.

This means that they have only one Chief at Akyem – Apapam and head of Amantuomiensa Division of Akyem Abuakwa. They kingmakers lamented.

With regards that the installation of Osabarima Opoku Manya II was done on Ohum Da, which according to the statement released by Daasebre Boamah Darko, the kingmakers said Akyem – Apapam usually lift ban on noise making after the two weeks of ban on noise making at 3:00pm and the installation was also done at 4:30pm on the same day.

They said knowing very well that the stool has become vacant; they consulted all the four (4) Agona Royal Houses which are Asunafo, Abomosu, Apapam and Banso, stating that even the consent of Okyenhene Osagyefo Amotia Ofori Panin was notify with regards to the installation as required by custom.