Installation of Okuapehene can progress without Queen mother's involvement - Ohene Nana

Correspondence from Eastern Region:

Spokesperson of the Abrewatia of Sakyiabea Royal Gate of Akuapem, Ohene Nana Bennet Smith Opoku, has clarified that installation of the new Okuapehene can proceed without the involvement of the Okuapehemea (the Queen).

The Okuapehemea had unilaterally selected and installed her own preferred candidate to the Akuapem stool contrary to customs.

Unsatisfied with this development, the Abrewatia of the Sakyiabea Royal Gate, of whose turn it is to nominate the next Okuapehene, petitioned the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs to ascertain the capacity of the Queen in nominating a successor to the Paramount stool.

On Thursday, April 30, the Judicial Committee of the Regional House of Chiefs ruled that it is the mandate of the Abrewatia to nominate the successor and not the in the powers of the Queen.

Following this ruling, the people of Akuapem welcomed the outcome, paving way for a majority of the Kingmakers to begin processes to install Odehye Kwadwo Kesse as the next Okuapehene to succeed the late Oseeadeyo Addo Dankwa III who died in 2015.

In an interview, the Spokesperson for the Abrewatia said all the processes of the installation will still go on if the Queen does not get involved.

"Looking at the majority side, I mean the kingmakers' side, the Queen mother is one of the kingmakers who has something to perform within the installation but we all know what has happened. The Queen mother finds it difficult to join her brothers and sisters, I will say, compatriots, to make sure that they go about the whole process."

"So, if you don't see the Queen mother, I don't think it will make any difference. I don't think it makes any difference."

"The Queen mother is one of the 11 and we have eight in number, so, the majority is here. And we can go ahead with the decision that they will make and it can succeed. That is all I can tell you," he said.

When asked if he was sure of peace in Akuapem, the Spokesperson said, "You were all here. Did you see any problem going on? Everything was calm.

"The security men were on top of their job. They were able to curtail whatever that might have happened. We sailed through without any problem."