Stay Away From  Gomoa Fetteh Chieftaincy And  Land Issues Now! ---Elders Warn Paramount of Gomoa Akyempim

Paramount (Omanhene) Chief of Gomoa Akyempim Traditional Area in the Central Region, Obrifo Ahunako Ahor Ankobea II has incurred the wrath of the principal kingmakers, accredited elders, queen mothers and other traditional office holders of Gomoa Fetteh Royal Stool of Abor Twidan Royal family,for crossing his traditional boundary to allegedly install some illegitimate persons as chefs in Gomoa Fetteh, which situation has created insecurity, tension and confusion in the area.

According to the traditional authorities in Gomoa Fetteh, the actions of Obrifo Ahunako Ahor Ankobea II is a complete violation of the Chieftaincy Act 2008, saying that he has no chieftaincy and traditional capacity to install chiefs and other traditional office holders in Gomoa Fetteh as traditions and customs are concerns.

They pointed out that the installation of the chiefs and other traditional office holders in Gomoa Fetteh Traditional Area are traditionally and customarily rites which per the traditional customarily and chieftaincy practices and laws of the area under the Fante state are being performed by the Paramount Queen-mother together with principal kingmakers, accredited elders and heads of Gomoa Fetteh Abor Twidan Royal family.

"ObrifoAhunako Ahor Ankobea II did not come from Gomoa Fetteh. Omanhene of Gomoa Akyempim Traditional Area has no any power or authority to decide who becomes chief or traditional office holder in Gomoa Fetteh.But he has breached these laws by way of using his power and position to be installing chiefs in the area.

"The worrying development has resulted to the shootings and killings of innocent citizens in Gomoa Fetteh and its adjoining communities," the elders and Kingmakers of Gomoa Fetteh Abor Twidan Royal family, said these in a press conference in Apam on Wednesday October 12, 2022.

Addressed by the Secretary of Gomoa Fetteh Royal Stool, Nana Essel, the elders stressed that"It is the high for the government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to impress upon the Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs to call to the order of Obrifo Ahunako Ahor Ankobea II in so that he stops his continuous interfering or playing a leading roles in the installations of chiefs and other traditional office holders in Gomoa Fetteh."

Obrifo Ahunako Ahor Ankobea II, Nana Essel stated was interested in installing his close associates who are not even royal from Gomoa Fetteh Stool as the chiefs so that these personalities would sell the lands in Gomoa Fetteh and allegedly gave him shares of the money.

Touching on the traditional leadership of Gomoa Fetteh, Nana Essel indicated that the problems they are having in area are caused by Obrifo Ahunako Ahor Ankobea II.

He noted that, the Paramount  Chief of Gomoa Akyimpem Traditional Area had made some installations which go contrary to their customs and tradition.

Nana Essel said “The Queen mother, Ohembaa Amoesima Nkrabea I, who has reigned since 1989 is alive and still reigning, but the Omanhen has sworn in another person as Obaahembaa in 2021 in his private residence at Buduatta. 

He pointed out that "There is Omankrado in Gomoa Fetteh already since 1992 in the person of Nana Kwa Mbreye, but Obrifo Ahunako Ahor Ankobea II has sworn in another person, a total stranger (a stranger means a person who is not a native or a member of a particular group of people or town) in the person of Kwesi Alhaji as Omankrado in 2021 in his private residence at Buduatta.”

He mentioned that there is a nominated candidate from the Royal Family whom he the Omanhen swore into office on the 12th of October, 2017, but this same Obrifo Ahunako Ahor Ankobea II has sworn in another Kofi Baah who styles himself as Abor Atta as chief in 2021 in his private residence at Buduatta.

“There is Ebusuapanyin in the Abor Twidan Royal Family already, yet again, Obrifo Ahunako Ahor Ankobea II has sworn in and certified three more people as Ebusuapanyins in the same Royal Family in 2021 in his private residence at Buduatta.”

According to him, the elders of elders and Kingmakers of Gomoa Fetteh Abor Twidan Royal family have officially informed or petitioned both the Central Regional House Chiefs (CRHCs) and National Regional House Chiefs (NRHCs)  over misconduct of Obrifo Ahunako Ahor Ankobea II but he refused to appear before the two judicial committees of both CRHCs and NHCs for the discussion of the matter.

Nana Essel stressed that they, as Elders and Kingmakers of Gomoa Fetteh do not accept anything untraditional, and for that matter, they do not recognize these people as chiefs.

He said, “Usually, these factors lead numerous gun men into the town to sound multiple gun shots, causing fear and panic at any point of  time they choose, and no law deals with them for this act.”

Nana Essel, however, advised that people who have been running to the so-called chiefs to purchase land without asking for proper documentation, to exercise caution so as not to get defrauded.

He stated that the lands in Gomoa Fetteh are stool lands and that Kwesi Alhaji and his followers donot have any authority to sell these to any individual and organisation and that those who buying lands from Kwesi Alhaji risk of losing their landed properties in the future.

Nana Essel asserted “Gomoa is a Fante state, thus Akan and our succession are matrilineal. Therefore, Gomoa Fetteh’s customs are founded on the aforementioned principles and any attempt to deceive the general public, particularly residents, businesses, landowners, and developers in Gomoa Fetteh and its enclaves criminal and a recipe for the continued hardships our people have been chastised with over decades.”

When contacted to response to the story, Kwasi Alhaji himself refused to speak directly on the matter and assigned his “aide” to comment. 

Following this development, Nana Manso also known simply as Eric addressed the allegations against the embattled Kwasi Alhaji. 

“Kwasi Alhaji has been properly nominated and installed as Mankrado of Gomoa Fetteh. He has advanced to the Gomoa Akyempim Traditional Council which is the Paramountcy to swear allegiance to the Omanhene, Obrifo Ahunako Ahor Ankobia II. We did all this following the Chieftaincy Act,” he added. 

To bring transparency into the matter, he noted that 'we followed up with the Gomoa Akyempim Traditional Council in Gomoa Assin. 

He noted that "To our dismay, the Palace was closed as a result of an ongoing destoolment of the Omanhene himself, which pending at the Central Regional House of Chiefs and led by the Omanhemaa, Obaatanpa Ama Eduwa I, Principal Ebusuapanyin of the Asona Royal Family in Buduatta as well as Elders and Divisional Chiefs in the traditional area. 

After interacting with some residents, it was exposed that before the customary rites performed by the Kingmakers of the Gomoa Akyempim Traditional Area to destool the Omanhene, Obrifo Ahunako Ahor Ankobia II, he had abandoned the Akyempim Palace which is the seat of the traditional government. 

This paper further contacted the Guantuahen, Nana Osuan Asare who doubles as the Chief of Gomoa Abonyin and revered member of the Traditional Council to ascertain all the claims made by both parties. 

He added “Swearing in ceremonies are sacred and always performed at Akyempim which is the traditional capital (Ahenkro) of the traditional area.

He said "The council, therefore, notifies all members who are partakers in such sacred ceremonies, particularly our Omanhemaa. 

This paper contacted Obaatanpa Ama Eduwa I to find out if she was aware of such a ceremony and unfortunately she is not aware of any such event.

Rather, she reminded this paper that there were allegations of the Omanhene swearing in a de facto group of people who are well known for terror activities in the Fetteh enclaves and shared videos of the Omanhene swearing one Kwasi Alhaji and Kofi Baah in his private residence at Buduatta with the help of some of his followers.”

Nana Guantuahen added that the incident is part of the reasons why the Omanhene has been traditionally removed and a destoolment petition of over 10 charges has been leveled against him at the Central Regional House of Chiefs in Cape Coast.