Otumfuo’s Akwamuhene accused of flouting royal orders

In spite of repeated warnings by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to his chiefs to desist from allocating land for illegal mining, without recourse to the laid down regulations over the years, Akyamfuo Kwame Akowuah III, Otumfuo’s Akwamuhene, who is also the Asafohene in Kumasi stands accused of initiating the sale of stool lands earmarked for community farm at MansoAsaman to support the local school feeding project.

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu has said that chiefs play a crucial role in the society, which requires them to contribute their quota towards the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as “galamsey”.

Otumfuo has stated that he admired and appreciated chiefs living in modern and bigger palaces, but it should not be at the detriment of the subjects or the people.

He said it was prudent to think about the needs of the people first, before big palaces and threatened that if a galamsey operation in an area is traced to a chief, that chief would not be spared.

But Akyamfuo Kwame Akowuah who also doubles as the Overlord of Manso Akwamu, has thrown the royal caution to the winds, and is reportedly in the process of selling the said lands to Chinese galamsey operators and engaged surveyors to demarcate the land size for the purpose of selling them out.

The people of Manso Asaman, who expressed their disapproval of the said position of the chief said the Akwamuhene has taken advantage of the absence of a chief in the town to exploit the resources of the community for personal gains.

Mr. Oppong Kyekyeku, spokesman of the community who raised the concerns of the people at a press conference last Tuesday, said the town has been without a chief, since the demise of Nana Akuamoah Boateng II, six years ago.

He said several attempts to enstool a new chief have been thwarted by the Asafohene for reasons known to him, resorting to acts of intimidation and threats to cow them into submission.

The community per the spokesman accused the chief of teaming up with Nana Afia Boatemaa and one Okyeame Kwabena Nsiah, as caretaker chiefs and partners in crime to exploit the community.

Nana Oppong Barnieh I and Nana Akowuah II, the Ankobiahene and Gyasehene respectively, have been suspended by the Akwamuhene for resisting his actions, regarding the wanton sale of stool lands without recourse to the community.

According to Oppong Kyekyeku, after the sale of portions of the stool lands to galamsey operators, the only benefit accruing to the community is one second hand computer and GHc300 from the Asafohene.

The community said the Asafohene had also failed to ensure the installation of a new chief as promised in April last year something they see as deliberate, in order to exploit them. In the circumstance, they have given the Akwamuhene a two-week ultimatum to take steps towards installing a chief from the Asona clan for the community, who becomes the automatic Mmamensenhene of the Kumasi Akwamu division to champion the proper development of the community.

They also want Akyamfuo Kwame Akowuah to desist from further sale of lands at Manso Asaman and called for the withdrawal of Obaapanin Afia Boatemaa and Okyeame Nsiah as caretaker chiefs for the community. The people have threatened to lodge a formal complaint to the Asantehene if there is no positive response from the Asafohene after the two-week deadline.

The overlord of the Manso Akwamu stool lands has since last week not reacted to the allegations per a questionnaire which sought responses to whether indeed Akyamfuor Kwame Akowuah had sold stool lands and lands for community farms to support the local school feeding programme to Chinese galamsey operators.

By the questionnaire The Chronicle was seeking responses as to whether the Akwamuhene had suspended two sub-chiefs because they are opposed to the sale of stool lands, among others.

The questionnaire, dated April 27 was duly received by one Berchie, a Secretary at the Akwamu palace and handed over to one Silvia, the Registrar who after consultation with the Akwamuhene scheduled a meeting on Tuesday May 2, 2016, at 10 am for the chief’s reaction.

But one week after at the appointed time, Registrar Silvia seems to be buying time for no reason. She is pleading that Sanaahene who was not readily available was to respond to the allegations and wanted another one week to enable the Akwamuhene to react to the allegations.