The Paramount Queen Mother of Kwahu Traditional Area, Nana Adwoa Gyamfua has reiterated the traditional authority’s destoolment of Mr. Eugene Akwasi Boadi who was occupying the Kwahu stool sometime ago.
Nana Adwoa Gyamfua’s remarks follow a recent ruling passed by the Judicial Committee of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs on who carries the authority as Kwahuhene. The ruling underlines the firm injunction, forcing Nana Barfour Osei Akoto to desist carrying himself as Kwahuhene.
During a press briefing at Abene on Thursday, June 26, the Queen Mother noted the relevance of addressing the public on the fate of Mr. Akwatia Boadi Eugene who has been taking the rest of the kingmakers from one legal challenge to the other.
“My statement here today is to inform the people of Kwahu and Ghana that, Kwasi Boadi remains destooled. We have performed all the necessary traditional rites, the same rites that brought him [Kwasi Boadi] to the throne; he has been destooled and, I have destooled him. If he has any place he wants to stay in Abene here, that’s up to him, this palace was built for me by my uncle and it wasn’t built for Kwasi Boadi, and any King that comes, if you live an exemplary life then I welcome and live with in harmony. If he has any place to live, he should come and laud over his supposed kingship authority, I do not have any issues with him. I’m urging Kwahuman to help me resolve this matter“, she stated.
The Queen Mother accused Mr. Kwasi Baodi for deliberately trying to frustrate the smooth running of the palace after his destoolment. In her words, she indicated that she does not recognize any other Paramount Chief apart from Barfour Osei Akoto [Daasebre Akuamoah Boateng III] who was installed sometime back in January.
“It’s a deliberate attempt. When I heard the Regional House of Chiefs ruling and Kwasi Boadi’s behavior, I was shocked. He has been destooled due to his dubious and indiscipline character. As I sit here, the only person I know is Daasebre Akuamoah Boateng III is the only person I know as Kwahuhene. Kwasi Baodi is no longer our King. We’ve taken him out of records and I’m urging him to desist from the behavior he’s chosen to operate with“, she added.
Nana Adwoa Gyamfua noted that the kwahu traditional authority will not attend any meeting, he [Kwasi Boadi] calls.
“What sort of meetings have they been conducting? One person cannot hold a meeting and we’re not aware of the meeting he’s been holding. For the past eight months, I haven’t stepped foot at the Traditional Council Office. If no Chief attends his meeting, then he has no authority in Kwahu. He should not hold himself because he has been gazetted. He is not our leader and he seizes to be the day we destooled him“, the queen mother claimed.
The Queen Mother has also called on President John Dramani Mahama to address the issue.
“We’re urging those supporting him to desist from it because it will not help them. We must also rise as Kwahu people because his behavior is denting the image of Kwahu. I have inquired and heard from people, where Kwasi Boadi has been claiming his government is in power but we’re urging the government [President Mahama] to desist from supporting Kwasi Boadi. He’s not the first person to have been destooled in Kwahu. Kwahuhene Daasebre Akuamoah II and Kwahu Hemaa Nana Abena Gyamfua [all deceased] were destooled but due to the good character they put up after their destoolment, they were later re-installed“,
Background
The Eastern Regional House of Chiefs has placed an interlocutory injunction on Baffour Akoto Osei from holding himself as the Omanhene of the Kwahu Traditional Area.
The Judicial Committee of the court, in its landmark ruling at Koforidua last Tuesday, also prevented six other individuals from holding Baffour Akoto Osei as the Paramount Chief of the area.
Per the injunction, Baffour Akoto Osei is prohibited from assuming, adopting or presenting himself under the stool name Daasebre Akuamoah Boateng III or from purporting to be the Omanhene — referred to as Kwahumanhene — of the Kwahu Traditional Area.
All the seven respondents are further restrained from engaging in acts that may undermine, obstruct or interfere with the customary authority or privileges of Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II, the gazetted and lawfully recognised Omanhene of Kwahu, particularly at his official palace in Abene.
The six are the Krontihene of Abene, Nana Simpe Owiredu III; Akyeamehene of Abene, Nana Asiedu Kwabeng IV; Baamuhene of Abene, Nana Ntim Sampong II; Werempehene of Abene, Baffour Nyarko Kyerefuor II; Nana Odame Ansong and Okyeame Akuoko Boateng.
The Judicial Committee underscored the cardinal principle of Ghanaian customary law that no two persons may concurrently occupy the same paramountcy.
The committee stated that it was, therefore, in the interest of peace, stability and lawful traditional governance that it deemed it necessary to preserve the status quo pending the final determination of the substantive matter.
The committee affirmed that any purported parallel installation while there was a validly installed and gazetted chief constituted a flagrant breach of customary law and the Chieftaincy Act, 2008 (Act 759).
The ruling follows a recent surge in tension within the Kwahu Traditional Council, driven by factional attempts to unseat Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II as the Omanhene supposedly without adherence to due process.
The Judicial Committee’s intervention now acts as a stabilising measure, aiming to avert further disruption to traditional leadership in the Kwahu area.
The three-member Judicial Committee was chaired by Okotwaasuo Kantamanto Oware Agyekum III, Paramount Chief of Akyem Bosome, with Oklepeme Nuer Anobaah Sasraku II, Konor of Yilo Klo Traditional Area, and Akusiaku Brempong Kumi Sasraku VIII, Paramount Chief of Anum Traditional Area, as members.
