The Herald’s sources within the Offinso Traditional Council in the Ashanti Region, have denied claims that the former Chief Executive of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), has been nominated and accepted as a successor of the late Paramount Chief of the area, Nana Awiafe Akenten III.
The report of Dr Kofi Koduah Sarpong selection, has been described as a “clandestine” media gimmick being employed by elements close to Nana Ama Serwaa Nyarko, the Queenmother of the town to push the GNPC boss through, despite concerns that he is not from Offinso and has no royal lineage entitling him to the powerful stool.
Many, however, described Dr Sarpong as usurper, insisting he is from the Beposo Asona Royal family and not from Dwamena and the Wiafe Stool of Offinso.
They insisted that he is from Beposo, a town in the Bosomtwe District of the Ashanti Region, where his parents and other relatives are buried, and where he stands a better chance of becoming a chief.
It comes days after the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, on April 28, 2022, days before his departure to the United States, turned down a request from Nana Ama Serwaa Nyarko to accept Dr Sarpong as her choice to ascend the Offinso stool, telling her to go and do the right thing as demanded by the tradition and the customary protocols.
The Queenmother was said to have stormed Manhyia Palace with Dr Sarpong, to see the Ashanti overlord, but was embarrassingly turned away with reports that a traditional protest called “Atamkesie”, has been lodged against her decision to have Dr Sarpong, ascend the vacant stool, by some factions in Offinso.
There are claims that the supporters of the GNPC boss, are throwing the names of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, President Nana Akufo-Addo, ex-President John Kufuor, the former Archbishop of Kumasi, Most Rev. Peter Akwasi Sarpong, a native of Offinso, among others as prominent people who are in support of Dr Sarpong’s candidature.
But sources close to Manhyia, told The Herald that the Asantehene, will insist on the right thing to be done and will not endorse any “backdoor machinations”.
The Asantehene is said to be seeing through the media onslaught. The source added that “this is not partisan politics, it is tradition”.
Last Friday morning event which saw the Offinso Akyeame, Nana Kwaku Wiafe in a video presenting former CEO of GNPC as the new Paramount Chief to the Offinso Traditional Council, has been described as a sham and must be treated with contempt.
Ahead of last week’s media reports of Dr Sarpong’s selection, various media outlets, had purported to have interviewed folks from the town who claimed they had been told the ex-GNPC boss had lots of connections to help develop Offinso.
In what appears to be a political campaign, some of them claimed not to have known him, but only heard that he bought a land in the town, put up a house in two months and paved the road leading to the house, therefore, hopeful that he was going to help them with his resources and political clouts, if he ascends the throne.
The media reports appear to be a response to viral videos from the town showing people in the Offinso residence of the Queenmother, protesting at what is said to be a game she is playing.
The respected Paramount Chief of the area Nana Awiafe Akenten III, died on Saturday, October 2, 2021 at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, where he was receiving treatment after a protracted illness.
The late Offinsomanhene had occupied the Wiafe Akenten traditional stool for 28 years, following his enstoolment in November 1993.
The alleged schemes by the Queenmother, Nana Ama Serwaa Nyarko, who is said to be backed by the Gyaasehene, Nana Kofi Tabi II, to impose an unqualified candidate on the town, according to The Herald’s sources, has caused tension to be simmering in the otherwise peaceful town of Offinso in Ashanti Region.
Additional information picked up by The Herald is that one Nana Kusi Appiah, the Mansokwantahene, is brazenly behind the schemes for the ex-GNPC boss to have access to the stool.
