The Office of the Paramount Chief of the Kwahu Traditional Area, Daasebre Akuamoah Agyepong II, has challenged his supposed destoolment as contained in a viral video.

Following the circulation of a video where some elders are seen performing rites to strip Daasebre Akuamoah Agyepong II of his titles and chieftain privileges, the Office of the Kwahuhene said the act was not only false but also contravened legal standards and Kwahu customs.

“The office of the Omanhene of the Kwahu Traditional Area wishes to clarify that Kwahuhene, Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II, has not been destooled. Recent video footage claiming to depict a destoolment procedure is not only false but also contravenes both legal standards and Kwahu customs. The dissemination of this misleading video on social media and selected WhatsApp group pages, particularly among known politicians, constitutes an attack on the rich heritage and traditions of Kwahu,” a statement by the Office of the Kwahuhene dated Saturday, October 20, 2024, noted.

In the viral video, members of the Kwahu Traditional Council, citing the alleged involvement of Daasebre Akuamoah Agyepong II in an extortion scheme and misconduct during his tenure as board chairman of the Agricultural Development Bank PLC (ADB), announced his destoolment, stating it was a necessary act to rid the Kwahu state of any shame and to prevent any issues that could lead to violence.

But according to the Office of the Kwahuhene, the Paramount Chief of the Kwahu Traditional Area has not been found guilty of any wrongdoing in his role as Board Chairman of ADB.

“It is important to emphasize that no formal charges have ever been brought against the Kwahuhene that would justify any destoolment process. Furthermore, he has not been found liable for any misconduct related to his role as Chairman of the Board of the Agricultural Development Bank. The demand for his resignation by the Banking Supervision Division of the Bank of Ghana came without prior opportunity for the Kwahuhene to respond to the allegations, which raises concerns about due process.

“In light of these events, the Kwahuhene chose to step aside to allow for an appropriate resolution of the matter. However, it is perplexing that, despite the absence of any findings against Daasebre, a video falsely suggesting his destoolment is being circulated,” the Office said.

The Office described the action by the elders as an attempt to tarnish the image of the Kwahuhene and thus urged the public to disregard the supposed destoolment of Daasebre Akuamoah Agyepong II.

“We urge the good people of Kwahu and subjects of the Esono Gyimah Mampong Agyei Stool to remain calm and steadfast in support of the Paramountcy. The actions of individuals attempting to tarnish the reputation of Kwahuman and the Kwahuhene without proper hearings should not be tolerated,” the statement said.

Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II, who also served as the Board Chairman of ADB, allegedly extorted GH₵2 million from a businessman, Collins Darkwah Aboagye, under the pretext of facilitating a GH₵12 million loan.

Despite paying a GH₵50,000 facilitation fee and the requested loan amount, the businessman claimed that the chief delayed repayment and only returned a fraction of the money after months of pressure.

This controversy led to the Bank of Ghana (BoG) issuing a directive on October 10, 2024, ordering Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II to resign as Board Chairman of ADB due to the reputational damage inflicted on the bank. The BoG stated that the chief’s continued presence at the bank was untenable, sparking widespread calls for his removal from both traditional and financial leadership positions.

Following his removal as ADB Board Chair, some youth of Kwahu petitioned the Kwahu Traditional Council, demanding decisive actions against Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II in line with their customs and traditions to restore the sanctity of the Kwahu Traditional Council.

The elders, during the rites performed on Saturday, poured libation and offered prayers to their deities as part of the final procedure for the destoolment.



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