Abrewatia of Sakyiabea royal family perform rituals to disown Chief

Accra, Sept 24, GNA- The Abrewatia of the Sakyiabea Royal family and elders of the Sakyiabea Royal Family of Akropong Akuapem, have at a family meeting libated and slaughtered a sheep to disown Odehye Kwadwo Kesse Antwi as a family member.

They have also described him as a self-styled Okuapehene of the Akuapem Traditional Area, Under the Name Oseadeeyo Kwasi Akuffo III
.According to Abrewatia Georgina Obuo Yeboaa, Kwadwo Kesse Antwi is not a Royal from the Sakyiabea Royal lineage.

“Nobody knows him as a Royal in the family and that it was her late two cousins, Lilly Agyeman and sister Teiko who introduced him to the family”.

‘This uncustomary act of the late Lilly Agyeman the former Abrewatia, gave birth to protracted litigation between the Okuapehemea Nana Afua Obuo Nketiaa II, the Queen mother of the Akuapem Traditional Area. Nana Afua Nketiaa Obuo II together with Nana Kwasi Omenako II, the Asonahene of the Akuapem Traditional Area and the late Adumhene – Nana Addo Panyin who followed the due process to install an Okuapehene (Paramount Chief of Akuapem) on December 5, 2017. The candidate Installed was in the name of Odehye Fredrick Kwasi Akuffo, giving credence to the fact that Akuapems are noted for their calm and civil co-existence”.
‘Okuapeman has a great opportunity to demonstrate to the rest of the country and the world at large that it is more united, has fellow feelings, orderliness, and respect for authority and due process. Indeed, Okuapeman has the opportunity to solidify its reputation as “home of discipline”.
Statement signed by Kwesi Mensah Afari on behalf of Abrewatia said currently it is the turn of the Sakyiabea royal family to choose the next Okuapehene.
“ This, everybody in Akuapem accepts. Per the Akuapem Tradition and Customs it’s the Queen mother’s role to appoint an Okuapehene as tradition demands.
“According to the road map, the Okuapehemea would, select the ‘fit and proper Odehye’, and inform the kingmakers that they now have a legitimate candidate for consideration. All these processes she followed”.
It said it was not because of the usual controversy and bitter litigation over the royal lineage of the contesting candidates and the legitimacy of the royal families vying for the new Okuapehene disrespecting what Okuapehemea has already done.
“ Some traditionalists in the area have been explaining that the process of appointing and enstooling a Chief has been characterized by dispute over the past 100 years.
The tension and anxiety began when the Banmuhene tried installing a second candidate, Odehye Kwadwo Kesse as the next occupant of the sacred seat.
The statement said his installation has become a radical shift from the immediate past Omanhene, the late Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa III, who was installed the Paramount Chief of the Akuapem Traditional Area in 1974 at the age of 44 and reigned continuously for 41 years before passing on in August 2015.
“Ever since Kwadwo Kesse Antwi and his cohorts have acted against the tradition and custom of the people of Akuapem, of whom he wants to lead.
“He is not a royal from the family and is a stranger from Akyem – Begro. His actions and inactions since he was allegedly sworn in by the Banmuhene are thwarting the development of the area, thus necessitating his removal from the Royal Family, so that peace can prevail.
“The Sakyiabea Royal Family of Akropong, who are supposed to present a Candidate for the position of the Omanhene do not accept Kwadwo Kesse Antwi as a member of the family, and therefore cannot be a candidate for the Paramount Chief of Akuapem”.
The statement said the late King of the Akuapem Traditional Area occupied the scared seat of Akuapem Asona, one of the seven major Akan clans – for 41 years.
“ He is, therefore, reputed to be the longest reigning Okuapehene since the formation of the Akuapem State. But the Banmuhene tried defying the time-tested tradition of disqualifying royals.

It said the Akuapem paramountcy has been characterized by strife and dissension since 1907.
“Records at the National Archives indicate that in 1895 when Nana F.W. Kwasi Akuffo took over the mantle from his uncle, he struggled to rule until he gave way to Nana Owusu Ansah in October 1907, who also had a difficult tenure till 1914 when he bowed out.
“Nana Ofori Kuma II took over in 1914 from his elder brother, Nana Owusu Ansah, and faced similar internal and external wrangling till he bowed out eventually in June 1919.
“For four years, there was no king in Akuapem; it was not because there was no qualified candidate but because different groups of Osiahene had their interests. Litigation and dissension followed”.
GNA
Edited by George-Ramsey Benamba