Bryan Acheampong's chieftaincy politics and alleged assassination attempt on Kwahuhene

By Okyeame Kotokoraba

I found it an utterly dismal experience that Kwahus could sit by and allow the disruption of their age old chieftaincy lineage by one parochial individual.

It was a complete humiliation, watching the whole Kwahuhene situation plays out in the media space.

Over the months there have been a tug of war in Kwahu. The grapevine hadn't lie. Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II, the Kwahuhene has been a stumbling block in Bryan Acheampongs quest to grab lands which belong to the state and also the control of Kwahu Paramouncy. Videos have circulated in the past with people of Kwahuman crying out for help as their lands and forests were being taken over forcibly.

Politicians have increasingly sought to exploit chieftaincy disputes for electoral gains and the situation in Kwahu is no exception.

From day one, it has been alleged that Bryan Acheampong has been the brain behind the removal of Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II as Board Chairman of the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB). It has also been alleged that the same minister of Agriculture and member of parliament for Abeti, Hon Bryan Acheampong played a major role in the alleged destoolment of the Kwahuhene.

There is yet another allegation that Bryan Acheampong sent thugs to the Kwahuhene's palace to prevent him from carrying out his legitimate duties as a traditional ruler of Kwahu.

Indeed, Listowell Kusi-Poku, a socio-political commentator has detailed events that led to Daasebre's predicament. He directly accused Bryan Acheampong of conniving to get the Kwahuhene out because he couldn't have his way with him.

The entire Kwahuhene situation is a clear case of a man having one of his own fighting him.

In fact, the whole attempt to disgrace Daasebre is all because of Bryan Acheampong’s ill motives, greed and personal vendetta. To the extent that Daasebre was almost assassinated.

But for the timely intervention of the Ghana Police Service on Sunday, October 13, the Kwahuhene would have been assassinated. A whole paramount chief almost went down simply because of one man's greed.

The attack came days after Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II's removal as the Board Chairman of the Agricultural Development Bank PLC (ADB) orchestrated by persons who wanted him out.

Forget about the claim that Daasebre involved himself in improper conduct as a board chair of ADB. It was just a ruse. The so-called businessman who made the case against Daasebre was compelled to submit a petition to President Akufo-Addo requesting the removal of the Kwahuhene from ADB.

It was all a grand plot to get Daasebre out of the way because of his refusal to comply with the sale of ADB.

At one point, they wanted the bank to collapse so they could buy it just like they attempted to do with the SSNIT Hotels.

But Daasebre stood his grounds against all political machinations by Bryan Acheampong. He simply is bent on destroying this young chief because he refuses to do his bidding.

Bryan Acheampong when he was busy acting like total jerk on the political stage, destroying Ghana's reputation with the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election violence, little did we know that he can actually do this to his own paramount chief. He obviously made a mess of it. It’s not only his actions, or non-actions, but also his manner, the way he all but connived to get Daasebre out of ADB. That’s just not acceptable.

Bryan is very much the same beast we’ve seen before, only worse. The greed he flung around is reckless and genuinely ugly. He’s more degraded, his aggression has intensified, and now he’ll do anything that his little psyche throws up.

It’s horrifying to watch. I don’t invest huge amounts of psychic energy into being proud to be a Ghanaian royal, but I find looking at Kwahu situation very humiliating.

I must be frank but Kwahus have failed themselves.

I am so ashamed of Kwahus. Kwahus ought to be ashamed of themselves for sitting down and allowing Bryan Acheampong's greed and manipulation to swallow a whole paramount chief.

Looking at some of this, one wonders what sort of primitive society Kwahu is. My God. It’s not just shameful. It is humiliating.

As for Bryan Acheampong, posterity will judge him. He will obviously end up being a transitional political player whose lust for power blinded him to the reality of the time.

Up Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II

Down Bryan Acheampong

Okyeame is a traditionalist from Elimina and a Teacher