Akwamu kingmakers urge government to gazette Akwamuhene

The kingmakers of the Akwamu Traditional Area are calling on the government to gazette the newly installed Akwamuhene, Odeneho Nana Kwarfo Akoto III, with immediate effect to prevent further disputes and confusion in the area.

Speaking on behalf of the kingmakers, Apuahene, Nana Amo Darko I, told Adom News for almost 20 years Akwamufie had gone without a king, but the Queenmother Nana Afrakuma graciously heeded the cry of the people and provided a suitable candidate who has been properly enstooled.

“We have done our part and it is time for the government to come in immediately and gazette him to prevent any further confusion in Akwamu – government should not wait for things to get out of hand before moving in to fight the crisis,” he said.

Nana Amo Darko noted that the Akosombo Dam is very close to Akwamu so if government hesitates and allows Akwamu to burn before moving in to do the right thing, it would affect the entire country.

“If government does not want any further confusion in this area they should gazette our king immediately because the new king is the one we like and nobody can change that,” he said.

This call comes in the wake of a recent clash between the Akosombo Divisional Police and a group of demonstrators claiming to be members of one of the royal families of Akwamu.

The police had come in to disperse the demonstrators who were protesting against the enstoolment of Odeneho Nana Kwarfo Akoto III and in the event a policeman was shot in the eye and he later died in the hospital.

Some of the demonstrators were beaten and arrested by the police and some also ran into the bushes.

Nana Amo Darko said most of the demonstrators were mercenaries hired by detractors of the king, adding that none of the ring leaders has a place in the royal families of Akwamu.

He said those who are suggesting that the newly crowned king is illegitimate should go to the house of chiefs and prove their case, adding that “if government has any doubt they can also come to Akwamu and check for themselves.

The Kyedomhene of Akwamu Traditional Area, Nana Yaw Boadu IV told Adom News in a phone interview from his US base that no chief has 100 per cent support of the citizens of his community so the uprising against the current Akwamuhene should not create the erroneous impression that he is illegitimate.

He said the litigations in Akwamu had been long overdue so citizens of Akwamu should thank God for giving them a new king with foresight, grace and a unifying spirit and support him with all their resources for the betterment of the area.

Nana Yaw Boadu IV said it was sad that the litigation at Akwamu had led to the death of a police man, adding that the people of Akwamu should learn a lesson from that and quit the disputes.

“We give our condolences to the family of the deceased police officer and promise to do everything in our might to ease their pain,” he said.

Source: Adom News/Ghana