I am still Abenasehene -Nana Boakye
Agyemang
Abenase (Ashanti
Region) 19 October 2002- Nana Dua Boakye Agyemang II, Abenasehene near Ejisu,
has described as illegal, a taboo, uncustomary and mischievous, attempts by
Nana Aboagye Agyei II, Ejisuhene, to install a parallel chief at Abenase in the
Ejisu traditional area.
He said he was
neither dead nor had he abdicated the Abenase Asenee royal stool to warrant the
installation of a new chief. Nana Boakye Agyemang was reacting to the news that
one Ofori Twumasi Kyeremono alias "Barracks" had sworn the oath of
allegiance to the Ejisuhene as the chief of Abenase.
He also described as
untrue the contention that Abenase had been without a chief for more than 20
years and said he had been the chief of the town for over 20 years. All that
while, Nana Boakye Agyemang said, he was recognised by the late Asantehene,
Otumfuo Opoku Ware II and produced a letter dated 27 February 1996, signed by
the Registrar of the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs, inviting him as the
Abenasehene to appear before him (Asantehene) for an issue.
Nana Boakye Agyemang
described the Ejisuhene as a royal who wanted to by-pass custom and traditional
values and practices to install a chief when the ruling chief still reigned.
This is something
frowned upon by Ashanti custom and tradition and described the Ejisuhene's
action as futile. The Abenasehene recalled that only a month ago, a delegation
led by a man who claimed to be a royal of the Amakom stool, came to him to
plead that he (Nana Boakye Agyemang) should abdicate due to his old age for the
Ejisuhene-installed chief "Barracks" but he refused saying, he had a
nephew to act in his stead until he joined his ancestors.
He said it therefore
came as strange and a surprise to him the news that "someone had been
installed as the new chief of Abenase." Tendering documents supporting his
rule, Nana Boakye Agyemang said the Ejisuhene faced him twice at a Kumasi High
Court, first on 12 July 1996 in the case Nana Boakye versus the Ejisu
Traditional Council at which the court presided over by Mr Justice A.K. Abada
ruled that he (Nana Boakye Agyemang) was the true chief of Abenase.
The Ejisuhene
appealed against the ruling in the same court but lost once more and cost of
1.3 million cedis was awarded against him in 1999. Nana Boakye Agyemang
therefore appealed to the Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) to cal the
Ejisuhene to order so that security at Abenase was not compromised.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com