A group calling itself the Concerned Youth of Okuapeman, has warned the Attorney General, Ms Gloria Akuffo, not to meddle in the Okuapeman chieftaincy issues.
In a statement, the group accused the minister of scheming to have her preferred candidate selected as Okuapehene ever since she was appointed Attorney General.
“As natives of Okuapeman we are aware of the submission of your choice of candidate Odihye Amaning to the Okuapehemaa which was not accepted,” the group said in a statement.
The group said it is bewildered at the manner in which the Attorney’s General’s office has decided to also seek reliefs for contempt charges against the Okuapehemaa together with the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr. Samuel Kwakye-Darfuor through the Regional Coordinating Council to Nana Afua Nketia Obuo, Queen Mother of the Akuapem Traditional Area
Below is the full statement:
CONCERNED YOUTH OF OKUAPEMAN
21st February, 2018
PETITION: ATTORNEY GENERAL MUST STAY AWAY FROM OKUAPEMAN CHIEFTANCY ISSUES
AFTER YOUR CANDIDATE WAS REJECTED, IT’S ALLEDGED THAT YOU ARE NOW USING YOUR OFFICE TO FRUSTRATE EFFORTS THROUGH THE COURT.
I. Hon Gloria Akuffo ever since you were appointed as the Attorney General of Ghana, you have used every means and effort to make sure the candidate of your choice becomes the next Okuapehene.
II. As natives of Okuapeman we are aware of the submission of your choice of candidate Odihye Amaning to the Okuapehemaa which was not accepted.
III. We the natives of Okuapeman have a lot or respect for you and your high office and admire you courage as a woman of purpose, substance and stature. All we plead is for you to refrain from meddling in the processes leading to the swearing in Nana Oboubi Atiemo 11- Elect as the next Okuapehene.This petition has become imperative for the following reasons:
IV. Last year in December a seven-member committee was set up by the Akuapem Traditional Council to resolve the crisis that has erupted over the enstoolment of a new Okuapehene. Various groups and contending interests are jostling for vantage positions ahead of the outdooring ceremony.
V. The Regional Minister together with your good office are seeking reliefs for at the court for an injunction to be placed ahead of the outdooring ceremony of the enstoolment of the New Okuapehene Elect.
VI. Deep respect for leaders is a pillar of the culture of the Akwapim people, is one of Ghana’s decent ethnic groups. So we accord you such respect.
VII. “We are today bewildered at the manner which your office has decided to also seek reliefs for contempt charges against the Okuapehemaa together with the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr. Samuel Kwakye-Darfuor through the Regional Coordinating Council to Nana Afua Nketia Obuo Queen mother of the Akuapem Traditional Area.
VIII. As Concerned Youth of Okuapeman, we want to alert you that the magnanimity and benevolence of the Okuapehemaa and the traditional council must not be taken for granted.
IX. We also want to alert you, Madam Gloria Akuffo and the Regional Minister that the Okuapehemea is a first-class monarch. The most prominent woman in Okuapeman and is the leader of all the traditional Queen mothers on the Akwapim land. And doubles as the custodian of the authentic history of the race and installations in Okuapeman.
X. As the Queemother of Okuapeman she is a stranger to controversy and this behavior of the royal institution of the chieftaincy in Okuapeman.
XI. This move, by you as a member of the committee that rejected Kojo Kesse portrays a bad blood to the people of Okuapeman and a bad faith with the traditional council.
XII. As an AG you should know that role of traditional institutions in building a harmonious society cannot be over emphasised, as traditional rulers they are the repository and custodians of cultural and traditional values.
XIII. We see this latest move to seek relief for contempt charges by your good office and the Regional Minister as obnoxious and objectionable and is likely to create tension in Okuapeman.
XIV. Currently the injunction has had it purpose fulfilled as a ploy to scatter the work of the committee chaired by the Adontenhene of Akuapem and Aburihene and other respected chiefs.
XV. The committee was set up last during an end-of-year meeting of the Akuapem Traditional Council at Akropong in the Eastern region.
XVI. The latest most obnoxious and objectionable plot is by some illegal king makers to use government in a bid to accord undue advantage to a preferred aspirant.
XVII. This is contrary to the agreed arrangement of tradition which has at no time been changed.
XVIII. It will be a slap on the face and an insult on the face of Okuapeman where wrong Politicians/Leaders that few illegal Members can sit down and determine who to elect.
XIX. We as a group pledge to support only a free and fair process where a new Okuapehene will be outdoored .This decision is to forestall a change in our history.
XX. The committee chaired by the Adontenhene of Akuapem and Aburihene, Nana Djan Kwesi II, has Odeefour Oteng Koranteng II, Berekusohene, Okatakyie Kusi Obuadum Amoyaw V, Aseseesohene as members.
XXI. The rest Osabarima Opese Konadu II, Awukuguahene and acting Nifahene, Nana Sakyi Amoako,Adawsohene, Osaberima Asiedu Okoo Ababioo III,Lartehene and Akuapem Berkumhene and Nana Ansa Sesreku II, Manfehene and Akuapem Kyidomhene have been dissolved because of the fear for their lifes. Its unprecedented
XXII. The committee was set up last during an end-of-year meeting of the Akuapem Traditional Council at Akropong in the Eastern region. As the Attorney General with a lineage in Okuapeman we thought it’s a good news to you about the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) that has been adapted by the house ,since your office has a lot of pressures.
XXIII. We have realized that unsatisfied with the choice of the Sakyiabea clan you are using your good office to aid reliefs of contempt charges and injunctions to frustrate the Okuapehemaa from performing her role traditional role.
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XXIV. We reecho that disputes have increased in the region and as concerned Youth of Okuapeman, we recognize that the role of the chieftaincy institution is relevant as ever. We would always want to see you as a role model, as we continue to seek and emulate you Madam .As the Attorney General of Ghana, we humbly advise you to stay away from Okuapeman chieftaincy issues.
XXV. We are aware of your meetings and subsequent meeting with the Okuapehemaa and some of the Kingmakers to try and bring Odihye Amaning.
XXVI. These activities since the commencement of the process of installing the next Okuapehene have tended to instigate and fuel the litigation over by the same royal House that you belong to as a prelude to the installation of a new Okuapehene.
XXVII. These tendencies have given some people the opportunity and are moving around as political cocks taking to the streets, strutting around with selfish ideas for sale in Okuapeman.
XXVIII. From every available statistics and evidence, the Okuapehemaa has done what is right with 90 percent of the chiefs supporting her.
XXIX. These actions have given ingredient to some political buccaneers like Victor Newman with no clear vision or mission for Okuapeman. Only interested in what they will garner from the Okuapeman issues while using coated vendetta and fake honesty as tools of playing to the gallery.
XXX. As Concerned Youth of Okuapeman, we know it’s unarguably an inalienable right of the people in many modern societies today, including Ghana, UK, and the USA, and should be constructive, not destructive, criticisms from the citizens, so that it would be part of the manure on which any nation is grown.
XXXI. We should also know that Impatient, ignorant, ill-motivated, unbalanced national criticism is one of the potent factors that have led to the Short-sighted Ghanaian national politics.
XXXII. I also know that President Nana Akuffo Addo wants Ghana to develop and grow as a nation and to this end, but not a pattern of sociopolitical agenda on chieftaincy issues made out of personal envy, out of ignorance, ethnicity, clannishness, and negative ulterior motives.
XXXIII. We should remember that we are the followers, of the party the rest are the people are the base of the nation now and today, we need them .so we must be ready to mend our ways.
XXXIV. Unless we are ready to change our individual character in truth and spirit for the better, we will not be able to correct the ills in government tomorrow, and we will not get better as a country.
XXXV. Strong political institutions, effective cannot install themselves in any society or traditional authority; they cannot fall from heaven or from the skies; they need strong, good leaders for them to be installed in the society that is what we seek from you madam.
XXXVI. When President Nana Addo appointed you, we believed that he had consistently reiterated that he would always ensure that Ghanaian government offices are occupied by Ghanaian good men and women, Ghanaians who really love Ghana, so that leadership sagacity/vision would troop into Ghanaian politics and traditions. That is what has been done in all better democracies and politics. That is why we as concerned youth on Okuapeman are calling on you to advice yourself.
XXXVII. We also want to state emphatically as the Concerned Youth of Okuapeman takes responsibilities on all congratulatory messages both print and indoor and outdoor messages on the New Okuapehene Elect Nana Oboubi Atiemo 11, Something we did with pride.
Gloria Akuffos Report to Current Okuapehemae.
To avert what was considered a sacrilege and ensure fair play, a committee was set up, chaired by Dr. Obuobisa Newman, Abusuapayin of the Sakyiabea Royal Family of Akropong Akwapem, to discuss the suitability of the four short-listed candidates.
The committee was made of:
1. Abrewatia Lily Agyeman
2. Odehye Ohene Frimpong (Secretary)
3. Nana Appiah Nti IV
4. Late Dr. F. W. A. Akufo
5. Attorney -General Gloria Afua Akufo
6. Dr. Asare Akufo
7. Nana Twumhene Yiadom
During the deliberation, the committee was initially informed that one of the candidates, Kojo Kesse Antwi, had substantial financial commitment and could not be available. However, the Abrewatia, Lily Agyeman – who is the direct aunt of Odehye Kesse Antwi – informed members of the committee at the meeting that the real reason for Kesse’s unavailability was that he had tattooed his body extensively.
She also told the committee that Kesse had disciplinary problems from his teenage years. They also found out that Kesse’s tattoo images were on Facebook and had become the subject of commentary on public radio and that, on a short visit to Accra from the US, he was invited and his body inspected by three members of the committee (made up of Abrewatia Lily Agyeman, Odehye Okoampa and Gloria Akuffo). They, indeed, confirmed Kesse had tattoo on his body.
The committee said, in view of this development, the more detailed research into Odehye Kesse’s character concluded that there were serious doubts about his suitability for the office of Okuapehene. In all these development went before the Okuapehemea and it’s on record.
We also want to use the opportunity to thank the Ghana Police Service in the Eastern Region for their good works in the area of peace, security and the protection of life’s and properties in Okuapeman. Ayekoo
From your Children Concerned Youth of Okuapeman
