The Okoman Council of the Akuapem Traditional Area and elders of Akropong in the Eastern Region of Ghana, have accused President Akuffo-Addo and his government of meddling in the ongoing chieftaincy crisis at Akropong leaving an indigene of the area amputated.
The Presidency, after using brute force to have an unqualified man; Kwadwo Kesse unto the Akuapemhene throne, sought to bribe kingmakers, including the Okuapemhemeaa with houses among others, to have him accepted and to occupy the Ofori Kuma Palace, but these items were rejected.
According to the Okoman Council, on January 24, 2018, with the full backing of the government and the late Victor Newman in the company of the National Security Operatives from the Jubilee House, conducted a raid on the Ofori Kuma Palace and brutally assaulted the young men on guard.
After the death of the Okuapehene Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa III, the enstoolment of a new Chief, to succeed Oseadeeyo, has led to litigation and violence, which is escalating every day.
Briefing the media at a press conference in Akropong, the Frankaahene of Akuapem Traditional Area, Nana Kwaw Kuturuku V, stated that in late 2017, in line with established custom, the Queenmother, Nana Affua Nketia Obour II, tasked the Mmerewatia and Asonahene, together with other kingmakers to join her on the installation of one Odehye Fredrick William Kwesi Akuffo, under the stool name Nana Obuobi Afiemo II.
According to him, he was moved into a forty-day quarantine as demanded by custom to undergo traditional training.
Nana Kwaw Kuturuku V, alleged that it was at this stage that, the late Victor Newman with the full backing of the President, Nana Akufo-Addo, frustrated the process by clandestinely and uncustomary installing one Kwadwo Kesse as Okuapehene, adding that; it was done in full breach of article 276 of the 1992 Constitution.
He further pointed out that, the National Security Operatives assaulted some Chiefs, like Nana Apem Darko and Nana Kwesi Menako, who is the Asonahene.
They were thrown in the bucket of a pickup and driven to Koforidua and without criminal charges kept in cells, in flagrant violation of their constitutional rights.
Nana Kwaw Kuturuku V, further alleged that, the National Security Operatives, continued occupying the Okuapehene’s palace for two years and turned it to wee smoking den and a brothel.
He noted that, after a lot of crying and lamentation by the natives of Okuapeman, the National Security Operatives, were recalled to Accra.
Not too long after leaving, they returned and this time brought Kwadwo Kesse to occupy the palace and “Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo shamelessly went to pay homage to Kwadwo Kesse in the desecrated Ofori Kuma Palace.”
Nana Kwaw Kuturuku V, further alleged that, after the installation of an unfit person, the President had the nerves to invite the Queenmother, Nana Affua Nketia Obour II and some elders, to the Jubilee House, to coerce them to endorse and regularize the illegal installation of Kwadwo Kesse, promising them buildings, cars, monies among other things.
“These nefarious things were outrightly rejected by Nana Affua Nketia Obour II, as if that was not enough, a government delegation led by the National Security Minister, Ken Dapaah, and the Secretary to the President, Nana Asante Bedietuo brought 62 rams and 62 cartoons of schnapps to appease the Okuapemhemeaa and the Okoman elders to accept the illegal installation. This was also unequivocally rejected”, he stated.
Nana Kwaw Kuturuku V, recall that in the heat of the COVID-19 pandemic and three days after a ban was placed on public gathering, over 500 security personnel and a fleet of armored vehicles and land cruisers, descended on Akropong to perform the illegal installation of Kwadwo Kesse at the taxpayers’ expense.
He also alleged that, both biological parents of the said Kwadwo Kesse, hail from Akyem Begoro and his installation is supposed to be a ploy by the Akyem Abuakwahene with the tacit support of President Akuffo-Addo to install a 100 percent Akyem boy as Okuapehene to eventually annex the Akuapem State.
Nana Kwaw Kuturuku V, reminded those people who want to take over Okuapeman that, it is a full paramountcy and cannot be subservient to Akyem Abuakwa.
He accused President Akufo-Addo, of raiding and assaulting innocent men at the Okuapehene’s palace on January 24, 2018, in a clear breach of Articles 14, 15, and 18 of the Constitution, and the consequences are spelled out in Article 2 (4).
Nana Kwaw Kuturuku V, also reminded the President of his oath to the people of Ghana when he solemnly pledged that he will at all times preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.
He, therefore, called on all Ghanaians, who advocate for freedom and justice, to rise and save Okuapeman from the tyranny of Nana Akuffo-Addo and his cohorts.
Speaking to one of the victims who was brutally assaulted at the Okuapehene’s palace, Kwabena Boafo, confirmed the unfortunate incident that got his left leg amputated, leaving him bedridden.
He, however, appealed to the police and other security operatives, as well as the judiciary to do everything humanly possible for justice to be done, by bringing the perpetrators of the heinous act to book.
“We, the citizens of Akropong, call on the president, H. E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as well as all Ghanaian advocates for freedom and justice to rise up and save Okuapemman from tyranny. Do not say it does not concern you, for it can spread like a cancer and destroy the fabric of every society in Ghana. Be a Citizen and not a spectator”, Nana Kutruku v, stressed.
