[Audio] Kofi Annan funding Akwamu chieftaincy dispute – CYA

A group calling itself Concerned Youth of Akwamuman (CYA) has accused former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan of “funding” the protracted chieftaincy litigation at Akwamu which has brought “undue tension in the area”.

According to the group, Mr Annan allegedly paid for the litigation costs of the Yaa Ansaa faction in the dispute.

The CYA, led by its Chairman, Godfred Akyea-Darkwa, addressing the media at Akwamufie said Mr Annan has planned to fund the Yaa Ansaa gate to continue the litigation, despite a ruling by the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs upholding the legitimacy of Akwamuhene Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III.

On Wednesday, the Judicial Committee of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, chaired by Okyenhene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin II, ruled that Akwamuhene Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III was the rightful heir to the throne.

The two factions have been battling each other in the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs and the law courts since the demise of Omanhene Odeneho Kwafo Akoto II (from the Yaa Botwe family) in 1992, who ruled for 55 years from his installation in 1936 and served as the chairman of the Presidential Commission of Ghana in 1955. The chief had occupied the stool on the ticket of the Botwe family.

But 25 years after his death, the two families have been litigating over who qualifies to occupy the vacant stool.

The Yaa Ansaa family attempted to enstool an Omanhene in the person of Kyeremateng Afranie. However, he was restrained by the queenmother, Nana Afrakoma, through a court injunction.

Later, the queenmother installed Kwabena Owiredu, now known as Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III, from the Yaa Botwe family – an action the Yaa Ansaa family described as illegal because it did not involve the kingmakers of Akwamu.

The Yaa Ansaa family, unhappy with the judgement, accused the Judicial Committee of taking a bribe to rule against them.

Source: Ghana/AccraFM.com