REPORTS EMANATING from Kumawu in the Sekyere Afram Plains district of Ashanti indicate that there has been an attempted burglary into the stool room of the palace two weeks ago.

The Krontihene of Kumawu Traditional Area and Acting President of the Kumawu Traditional Council , Nana Peprah Koduah IV, who confirmed the incident said it had been reported to the local police. Nana Koduah indicated even though it is being rumoured that certain people were masterminding the burglary the Traditional Council has no clues as to suspects and that the Council had launched independent investigations into the aborted thievery.

According to the Kumawu Krontihene the Traditional Council had instituted internal measures to protect stool properties at the palace.

Sources say the police and security agencies are on the look out for people believed to be malcontents in the chieftaincy dispute who are behind the planned burglary.

The recent robbery attempt at the Kumawu palace is the second in seven years ago. On Wednesday July 7, 2004 thieves allegedly broke into the Omanhene’s Palace at Kumawu and made away with some stool regalia, including an Abammo, a brass pot decorated with the head of a mother and her twins is said to house fertility spirit for the people.

The Abammo, which is an integral part of the Papa Festival of the people of Kumawu, is said to have been captured by the Kumawuhene Barima Tweneboah Koduah during a war against Ataala Fiam VI who held all the lands between the Afram Volta and Pru rivers.

It was found sitting alone under a large umbrella (Abammokyenie) and brought to Kumawu together with the Abammokyenie and entrusted to Nana Taa Akyeampong, the queen mother of Kumawu for safekeeping which practice has been sustained since. It is supposed to be in the custody of the queen mother at all times and carried in procession on the eve of the Papa festival as part of rites for the festival. As reported by the Graphic of July 21, 2004, a calabash full of gold ornaments was also stolen during the July 7, 2004 robbery at the Kumawu palace. E N D.