The Chieftaincy dispute in the Ahanta Traditional Area over who takes over from the late Otumfuo Baidoe Bonsoe XV as the Overlord nearly turned bloody last Wednesday at Busua, when the warring gates allegedly clashed.
Information available to this paper indicates that the AnonaAkade family of Busua, which is laying claim to the stool, had gathered at their family house in Busua to hold a commemorative prayer for Baidoe Bonsoe II, who was cruelly murdered by the Dutch in 1878.
As the event was ongoing, some suspected thugs, numbering about 30 and reportedly wielding cutlasses and knives stormed the venue of the ceremony and clashed with the other faction, including journalists who were covering the event.
Canopies, chairs and tables that had been arranged at the venue were destroyed,but no one was injured during the confrontation.
The Ahanta traditional area has been embroiled in a chieftaincy dispute since the death of their overlord, Baidoe Bonsoe XV.
Following his death, one Kobina Antwi is claiming to be the overlord with the stool name Otumfuo Baidoe Bonsoe XVI.
He has consequently introduced himself to the Omanhene of Upper Dixcove, Obrempong Hima Dekyi.
However, the Otumfuo Baidoe Bonsoe family and the other royal gates have denounced the enstoolment of Kobina Antwi as Ahanta overlord.
The Kingmakers of the stool have remained silent over the issue, but in a letter intercepted by this reporter and addressed to the National House of Chiefs (NHC), the kingmakers denounced Kobina Antwi as overlord of Ahanta.
Following the non-recognition of ‘Otumfuo Baidoo Bonsoe XVI’ by the royal gates, kingmakers and odikros, the Ahanta land is currently embroiled in a chieftaincy dispute.
For instance, the sitting acting president, Nana Eziaku IV, had to escape through his window after thugs allegedly stormed his house for not supporting one of the gates.
A family member and Okyeame to the head of Akade family, Okyeame Kweku Frimpong, in an interview with this reporter confirmed the story and added that, in the process of performing rituals to remember the cruel death of their great grandfather, Baidoe Bonsoe II, the thugs stormed the venue and ordered them to stop what they were doing.
According to him, the thugs, who were wielding cutlasses and knives told the family head that they have been instructed by a claimant to the stool to stop the ceremony.
Okyeame Frimpong continued that Ebusuapayin Awandzi told the thugs that he does not know anyone by the stool title they were looking for.
Rather, what the Akade family knew was that there was a caretaker in the person of Nana Eziaku IV and since they have received no instruction from him to stop the ceremony, the orders of the said claimant would not be respected.
This, according to him, angered the thugs who went back and later returned with reinforcement, looking for one Ben Ansah.
As a result, the thugs, according to Okyeame Kweku Frimpong, started searching from room to room, looking for Ben Ansah, who they (thugs) claim was the cause of the chieftaincy troubles in the area.
Okyeame Frimpong revealed to this reporter that Ben Ansah was hiding in a room where the gods are kept and rituals performed.The thugs requested for keys to the gods room but the family refused.
The thugs consequently broke into the room but were unable to locate Ben Ansah. They, however, bolted with items such as a stool, cash, Batakari, gun, arrow and walking stick amongst others.
A reporter with Ogya FM, a local community radio station at Agona-Nkwanta also confirmed the story.
According to Benjamin Kobby Arthur, popularly known as ‘Kobby Mighty”, together with his colleagues had to run for their dear lives after the thugs stormed the venue of the ceremony wielding cutlasses, knives and clubs. In the process of escaping, he said a female reporter sustained bruises on her fingers.
Ben Ansah confirmed in a telephone interview that sensing that the thugs had come for him, he quickly escaped from the ceremony.
A formal report, according to our unimpeachable sources, has been made to both the Agona Nkwanta Police Command and the Regional Command.
