The judicial committee of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, headed by its President, Osaagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin II, has given final judgment on the two-and-a-half-decade-old Akwamu chieftaincy dispute that came before it for resolution.
The committee confirmed Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III as the substantive paramount chief of Akwamu after six years in acting capacity, since 2011 when he was installed amidst controversy.
The judgment, before it was given, attracted heavy police presence at the compound of the Regional House of Chiefs in Koforidua on Wednesday, May 10, 2017, for fear of possible violence between the two factions of Akwamu after ruling had been given.
Reading the judgment on behalf of the House of Chiefs, Nana Gyankoma Djaba Mensah, a state attorney, said among other things that Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III was validly nominated, elected and installed Paramount Chief of Akwamu in accordance with the custom and practices of the people of Akwamu.
The protracted chieftaincy dispute was between the two factions of the Akwamu Black Stool – Yaa Ansaa and Yaa Botwe royal families – of which the former claimed to be the indigenous custodian of the stool while the latter was an alien.
However, the judiciary committee unanimously ruled the case in favour of the Yaa Botwe family stating that it was eligible to ascend the Black Stool and, therefore, would hold no allegiance to the Yaa Ansaa family.
The judicial committee also slapped a cost of GHS15,000 on the petitioners to pay to the respondents for “wasting” their time on the case.
The ruling got members of the Yaa Botwe side jubilating and Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III, in his interaction with the media, showed gratitude to the people of Akwamu for their immense support towards the outcome of the case and called for both factions to reunite for development.
However, the Abrewatia of the Ansaa faction, Love Edwo Among, who spoke to Class News, expressed dissatisfaction with the ruling and alleged the President of the house of chiefs had been bribed to rule in favour of the Botwe faction.
She gave hints that her faction would appeal.
Source: Ghana/AccraFM.com
