E/R: Tension Heightens In Akyem Kade Over 40-day Observation Of Late Queen-mother

There is another heightened chieftaincy tension at Akyem Kade in the Eastern Region over the planned 40-day celebration of the demise of the Queenmother of the town, Ohemaa Akua Fosua.

It follows an attempt to impose a rival chief enstooled recently at Kyebi who swore an oath to Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin to be in charge of the 40-day observation in his capacity as Kadehene.

A similar chieftaincy dispute at Adoagyiri recently led to the deaths of two people.

The incumbent Chief of Kade Osabarima Agyare Tenadu II,alleged to have been destooled, together with some sub chiefs as well as angry residents, have rejected the inclusion of the rival chief Osabarima Asare Twe, known in private life as Twum Deberah, to sit in state during the traditional rite.

Addressing the media in Akyem Kade on Sunday, September 10, 2023,Lawyer Nkrabea Effah Datteh, Esq., counsel for Osabarima Agyare Tenadu II, enstooled as Chief for over 15 years until the recent enstoolment of a rival chief, argued that he is before the Supreme Court on appeal against the national house of chiefs that entered judgment against him, therefore until the Supreme Court makes the final determination, he won’t abdicate the stool and won’t recognize anyone as Kadehene.

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When I looked at the letter, I saw that His Majesty Okyenhene is the principal mourner—he is my overlord. I give him all the respect. Kade belongs to him, but I also saw an upstart, a pretender, Twum Deberah, dressed up as Osabarima Asare Twe, Kadehene. That one I cannot tolerate.”

Osabarima Agyare Tenadu II stated that he wrote a letter to Oseawuo to express his resentment that there cannot be two chiefs at Kade, and until the supreme court decides on the appeal pending before it, at law, I am the chief of Kade”.

However, “Nana Oseawuohene has not responded to my letter. It is now only one week for the 40 days. I do not want any bloodshed in Kade. Every life in Kade is very precious to me. I will not want anybody to lose his life as a result of a recall chieftaincy dispute. Only two weeks ago, two people died in a shootout at Adoagyiri over a chieftaincy dispute.

Osabarima Agyare Tenadu II appealed to the IGP, Chief Justice,chief Speaker of Parliament, and all peace-loving Ghanaians to intervene for peace to prevail.

In 2011, the Queenmother of Kade, now deceased, Ohemaa Akua Fosua, dragged Osabarima Agyare Tenadu II to Okyeman Council in Kyebi on grounds of some charges.

The Council, chaired by Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, however, dismissed the case, describing it as bovine and frivolous.

Two weeks later, the Queenmother repeated the same application at the judicial committee of Akyem Abuakwa traditional council, where a judgment was delivered after two years of trial, leading to the destoolment of Osabarima Agyare Tenadu II.

Upon an appeal filed by Osabarima Agyare Tenadu II, which lasted 7 years, the Eastern Regional House delivered judgment and directed a re-trial of the case by the Akyem Abuakwa judicial committee.

However, the plaintiff filed an application at the National House of Chiefs challenging the judgment by the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs.

On September 29, 2022, the national house of chiefs upheld the appeal but has failed to give a written reason for the ruling two years later.

Osabarima Agyare Tenadu II filed an appeal at the Supreme Court, but the case cannot be heard due to the failure of the National House of Chiefs to provide the full judgment.

A stay of execution was therefore filed at the National House of Chiefs, setting aside the judgment.

However, a few months ago, Twum Deberah, the rival chief, was installed as Kadehene at Kyebi and sworn in as Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin.

He was reportedly gazetted by the National House of Chiefs; however, a search conducted by counsel for Osabarima Agyare Tenadu II at the Registry of the National House of Chiefs suggested otherwise.

Nonetheless, his counsel filed and argued for a judicial review and certiorari at Kumasi High Court to quash any purported installation of anybody as Kadehene, which judgment was fixed for October 31, 2023.

Meanwhile, residents of Kade township, with a population of about 40,000 predominantly farmers, say the protracted chieftaincy dispute is retarding development in the community and have called on the government to ensure that the right things are done to restore peace and harmony and facilitate development.

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