Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II Is The Custodian Overlord Of Aduana Royal Stool Land In Bibiani—Chiefs Of Sefwi Anhwiaso State Scold Ngoah Anyimah Kodom

The various legitimately installed chiefs, queen-mothers, heads of families under the Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Council in the Western North Region, have refuted the viral claim by previously destooled sub-chief of Kyikyiwere and Krotihene of Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Council, Nana Ngoah Anyimah Kodom II to the effect that he remains the legitimate Chief of Bibiani/ Kyikyiwere and Krontihene Of Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Council.

The traditional rulers further denied assertion by Nana Kodom, suggesting that he is the occupant of all the Aduana Royal Stool of Bibiani, calling on general public, particularly the residents and citizens of Bibiani to ignore these fake statements by Nana Kodom.

According to the chiefs, all the claims by Nana Kodom that Paramount Chief of Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Council, who doubles as the President of the National Regional House of Chiefs, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II does not own Aduana Royal Stool land of his subordinate is completely false. 

They chiefs stressed that If any prospective land developer deal with Nana Kodom in respect of Bibiani land, they risk losing both the land and their money because his is a chief on our land.

They stressed that the Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Council stool lands secretariat at Bibiani being controlled by Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, saying that the action and inactions of Nana Kodom was aimed at deceiving prospective land developers to engage in the illegal sell of the stool lands in the area.

They provided documentary proof to back their statement that indeed the Land Act 2020, Act 1036, section 5, 6,7 stipulates that all customary lands are under auspices of the Paramount Stool.

They presented historical documents to dispute Nana Kodom's claim as the Bibianihene and occupant of the Aduana Royal Stool land of Bibiani.

They have set the records straight that Paramount Chief of Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Council is a overload of all the stool lands including Aduana Royal Stool land at

Bibiani.

They noted that the reports in the statement made by Ngoah Anyimah Kodom to the effect that the court has reaffirmed him grantor of all the Aduana Stool Lands at Bibiani are wrong impression of the court's  judgement on the matter.

They stressed that Ngoah Anyimah Kodom, has no locus and traditional capacity to be made a grantor to all the Aduana Stool lands at Bibiani since it was still in chieftaincy records that he has been destooled as a sub-chief of Kyikyiwere and Krotihene of Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Council, Ngoah Anyimah Kodom II.

The chiefs of Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional 
Area made these foregoing remarks at a cwided press conference to respond to some erroneous impressions being peddled by Nana Kodom against Paramount Chief (Omanhene) of Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Area, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II and entire people of Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Area.

It would be recalled that Nana Ngoah Anyimah Kodom II in his recent press conference dated May 21, 2024 insisted that he remains the legitimate Chief of Bibiani 

Nana, who has faced decades-long challenge as to his legitimacy, has stated that all the facts and recent history attest to the fact that he is the legitimate Chief of Bibiani.

He said that indeed aspects of the matter has travelled as high as the Supreme Court of Ghana, and at all points, he has come out as victorious.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, it will interest you to know that the Petitioners against me including Nana Abena Birago II have since 2004 not brought any fresh destoolment charges against me as advised by the Western Regional House of Chiefs (WRH if they were still minded to have me destooled.

"Because I am still the substantive chief of Bibiani my name is still in the Chieftaincy Bulletin as the gazetted chief of Bibiani. Since I have not been destooled my name cannot be removed from the register of chiefs. I became chief of Bibiani on 23 March 1992 and gazetted on 29 October, 1992," he noted in his media publication.

According to him, Charles Kwabena Frimpong who claims to be the chief of Bibiani does not have his name in the register of chiefs as the chief of Bibiani, stressing that he is only a rubble rouser determined to create chaos and confusion in Bibiani.

"Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press, with this sequence of events as enumerated above, the District Court of Bibiani and the High Court, Sekondi have every right to come to the conclusion that I am the occupant of the Bibiani stool and therefore the custodian of Bibiani Stool lands.

"The laws of Ghana are very clear that an overlord does not own the stool land of his subordinate chief. Therefore, the Omanhene cannot own Bibiani Stool land. All the other stools in the traditional area own their respective lands.

"But it is important to point out that the town Anhwiaso has no stool lands. What happened was that on 2nd October 1913 the various stools in this enclave now constituting Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Area decided to have an overlord, a primus inter pares.

"Monies were therefore contributed to one Nana Atta Kwame of Pataboso to build a palace at the junction of the major towns now called Anhwiaso (From Biabiani- Anhwiaso 12 miles; Awaso to Anhwiaso 7 miles; Pataboso to Anhwiaso 3 miles) but he squandered same without building the palace.

"Then in 1920 the Fahiakobo chief Nana Kofi Agyei decided to take over the project and he built the palace and completed same in 1928 and was unanimously acclaimed the paramount chief," he was quoted to have said in his press conference.

He stressed that "What it means is that Anhwiaso as the paramount seat of the traditional area had no stool lands. 

"As a result, it was agreed by all the stools constituting the traditional area that 20% of stool income will go to the paramount stool to maintain it.

"It is therefore completely out of order and uncustomary for anyone to claim that the Omanhene is the owner of Bibiani Stool lands.
As I indicated from the beginning, my purpose for this press conference is to let the people of Bibiani know that if anyone is creating chaos and confusion in Bibiani in respect of Bibiani Stool land, it is certainly not me. I am the rightful person to deal with Bibiani Stool lands.

He said prospective land acquirers in Bibiani that "I am the only person who can give them valid title to any land they wish to acquire in Bibiani. If they deal with any other person in respect of Bibiani land, they risk losing both the land and their money."

But in a counter-press conference held at Sefwi Anhwiaso on Saturday May 25, 2024 addressed by Nana Kwadwo Somiah II who doubles as a member of National House of Chiefs,Nana Kwadwo Sumia II, the chiefs challenged Nana Kodom's chieftaincy status, stressing that no court of competent jurisdiction and National Register of Chiefs have confirmed Nana Kodom’s status as chief of the Bibiani/Kyikyiwere.

Flanked by Abusuapanin of Sewfi Anhwiaso Traditional Area who doubles as the chief of Pataboso, Nana Okofo Berema Kwabena Beng II and Queen mother of Bibiani/Kyikyiwere Nana Abena Birago II, Nana Kwadwo Somiah II rubbished the viral comment being made by Nana Ngoah Anyimah Kodom II to the effect that Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Area was formed in 1913.

They maintained that before 1913, they have Paramountcy  of Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Area, stating that Nana Ngoah Anyimah Kodom II was always talking like a stranger or someone who was adopted into the Aduana Family.

They warned Nana Ngoah Anyimah Kodom 
to stop his continuous habit of putting in public fake historical facts in regard to the land and chieftaincy affairs of the Sefwi Anhwiaso state, fuming that "very soon he would see his level in the area."

They stressed that the traditional and chieftaincy records in the area indicated that Nana Kodom has lawfully, traditionally and customarily destooled as the chief of Kyikyiwere and Krontihene Of Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Council, which justified that his earlier appointment by the President of Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Council as the chief of Bibiani was valid any more.

They reaffirmed that Anarfi Abebio is the
chief of Kyikyiwere and Krontihene of Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Council, adding that Anarfi Abebio has been lawfully and legally appointed by President of Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Council, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II aa caretaker of the Bibiani per the law of the council.

They accused Nana Kodom of fueling land and chieftaincy conflicts in the area, which situation is affecting development, peace and human security. 

According to them, Nana Kodom is trying to usurp the powers of the Paramount Chief and performing certain functions which were against the customs and traditions upon which Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Area was founded.

They blamed some self seeking elders of the area for conniving with Nana Ngoah Anyimah Kodom to engage in those acts which has the tendency of breaching the peace and security of the area.

“We wish to make it abundantly clear that our patience in the interest of peace has been fully exhausted. We will no longer sit by and watch Ngoah Anyimah Kodom to be destroying the integrity of our Paramount Chief and other traditional office holders," the chiefs fumed.

For these chiefs of the council, they stated that all the statement of claims and various documentations Nana Ngoah Anyimah Kodom II provided to journalists during the press conference he organized are false and fake.

"We are saying that Nana Ngoah Anyimah Kodom's legitimate as Chief of Bibiani/ Krontihene is still under bone of contention for which the elders of the Krontihene Of Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Council have served him with fresh chieftaincy summons to that effect.

"Our attention has been drawn to comments being made by the said Ngoah Anyimah Kodom during his ill press conferences dated  May, 21 2024 against Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II (Omanhene and President of Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Council and entire people of Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Area," the chiefs noted.

They indicated that records available show that the Kronti Stool is at Kyekyewere and not Bibiani.

'Even the Traditional Council, which is the government instituted body that oversees the affairs of the Traditional Area has no such record of Bibiani," the chiefs noted.

On the points 3, 4 of the said press conference by Nana Kodom, the traditional rulers reiterated that no judgment has been made in favour of him, confirming him as Bibianihene and  Krontihene of the Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Area.

"As stated, making reference to chieftaincy act 1971 (Act 370), The same chieftaincy Act 2008, amended (Act 759) section 61, and 62 stated clearly, the process of destoolment of a chief and contempt charges, ref, to suit no.

The Republic Vrs Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, Charles Kwabena Frimpong alias Nana Anarfi Ababio Ex- parte: Nana Ngoah Anyimah Kodom woefully against your statement as Bibianihene. Present the true facts of the matter to the general public," they noted.

According to the chiefs, the court carefully scrutinized before ruling in favour for Nana Anarfi Ababio and Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, that makes Anarfi to hold himself as a chief of sub-chief of Kyikyiwere and Krotihene of Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Council in the Western Region.

On point 10, 11 of Ngoah Anyimah Kodom's write up, they explained that the king makers have filed motion of destoolment against him as stated in his statement.

"Again, all royalties come in the name Anhwiaso Stool before disbursement which omanhene is the highest authority of the stool therefore grants him as an allodia title holder.  
It would be recalled the recent revelations from the National Archives, now known as the Public Records and Archives Administration Department, have unveiled a concerning narrative surrounding the purported chieftaincy claim of Nana Ngoah Anyimah Kodom II.

Nana Kodom, previously destooled as the sub-chief of Kyikyiwere and Krotihene of Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Council in the Western Region, has been accused of using illegal tactics to assert his claim as the substantive Chief of Bibiani.

Records from the national archives indicate that those responsible for Nana Kodom’s installation resorted to deceit and fabrication to justify their actions.

Numerous documents from the traditional area suggest that the methods employed to install Nana Kodom were irregular and against customary practices.

The Chief List in the national archives outlines the traditional structures for installing chiefs in various recognized towns and villages under the Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Area.

According to this list, Bibiani, represented by Anhwiaso, Nkawie, and Sankori, does not hold a chieftaincy status title.