The Okoman Council of the Akuapem Traditional Area and elders of Akropong in the Eastern Region says it can no longer tolerate the continuous harassment and intimidation of innocent citizens of Akuapeman by security services stationed at Akropong and called for their removal by the government.
They, therefore, appealed to the Asantehene, Otumfour Osei Tutu II to intervene in chieftaincy dispute which was undermining the peace and security thus retarding growth and development of Akuapeman.
The council also called on the traditional rulers and Ghanaians in general to add their voice to bring an end to the long standing chieftaincy dispute following the death of the Okuapehene, Oseadeayo Addo Dankwa III in 2015.
The Frankaatuhene, Nana Kwao Kutruku and spokesperson for the council addressing a press conference in Accra yesterday said “it was in great pain that we address you the media today especially where we had to leave from Akuampem to Accra for the purpose of bringing to Ghanaian public of what was happening to us in Okuapeman as far as the chieftaincy issues were concerned.
“From where we sit, it is obvious that there was no end in sight in resolving the dispute as long as there continue to be political interference in the matter hence our resolve for the press conference,” he said.
According to the Frankaatuhene , by the Akan customs and traditional, it was the sole responsibility of the queen mother to nominate a successor with the relevant processes after the demise of a chief or traditional ruler but with the case of Okuampeman after the death of Oseadeayo Addo Dankwa III, in July 2015, the story was changed that today an ‘imposter’ was imposed on the people of Akuapem with the support of the powers that be.
The spokesperson alleged that soldiers and other security personnel sent from Accra on orders of the Jubilee House are all over the place in Akropong Akuapem creating fear and panic in the people and ultimately leading to food insecurity as the farmers could not freely go to their farms for fear of their lives.
Nana Kutruku also warned some chiefs in the area who have been compromised by politicians through bribery to skew ruling in favour of persons not qualified to be the Okuapemhene adding that one of such bribery allegation prompted the council to file a motion at the National House of Chiefs (NHC).
“Adding without addressing the motion of the bribery allegation, we are suddenly invited to Kumasi this Thursday September 29, for judgment in the substantive case.
“We shall not sit to allow this injustice to be perpetuated, we want peace in Okuapeman for development to go on,” the Okoman spokesperson concluded.
In attendance were Nana Aduna II, Akyeamhene and Nana Adu Panyin III, Fotosanhene.
BY NORMAN COOPER
