[ 2016-10-18 ]

Kofi Annan's name pops up in Akwamu chieftaincy dispute
The Okyehene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panyin II,
has summoned former UN Secretary General, Kofi
Annan, to his palace to resolve a long-drawn-out
chieftaincy dispute.

Kofi Annan is said to be leading one of two royal
families involved in the six-year-old wrestle for
a chieftaincy title in the Akwamu Traditional
Area in the Eastern Region.

Myjoyonline.com sources say the adjudicators at
the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, where the
matter is being heard, believe the presence of the
respected Diplomat would fast-track the resolution
of the dispute.

The dispute broke in 2011 when the Queen Mother of
the Botwe royal family, Akwamu Nana Afrakoma, took
steps to enstool Nana Kwabena Owiredu ( aka
Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III ) as Omanhene of Akwamu
Traditional Area.

In a bid to stop the process, the rival Ansaa
royal family referred the matter to a High Court
in Koforidua, but that did not stop the Botwe
family from installing Nana Owiredu as chief of
the Akwamu Traditional Area.

An arrest warrant was subsequently issued in 2012
for Nana Afrakoma and Nana Owiredu for contempt.

The matter was eventually referred to the Eastern
Regional House of Chiefs for resolution, but the
defendants, the Botwe royal family, have accused
the Ansaa family and the former UN Secretary
General – who is head of the Ansaa family – of
unduly dragging the matter.

Although Mr. Annan and the Ansaa family have
purportedly given the Power of Attorney to one
Owusu Bruku, the lawyer for the Defendants Kweku
Painstil argues the absence of a substantive
member of the Ansaa family at hearings was working
against efforts to end the dispute.

Mr Paintsil also faulted the Power of Attorney
document presented, suggesting that because Mr.
Owusu Bruku was not a member of any of the two
royal families, he lacks the ability to provide
credible evidence.

During sitting, Okyehene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori
Panyin also wondered why the Power of Attorney
document was not signed by Mr. Kofi Annan,
raising doubts about the authenticity of the
document.

The panel of chiefs hearing the matter, therefore,
asked the lawyer for the Plaintiff, Stephen Asante
Bekoe, to produce Mr. Annan on the next sitting,
scheduled for November 9, 2016, to bring clarity
the matter.

Source - Joyfm

... go Back