The nephew of the paramount chief (Omanhen) of the Eastern Nzema Traditional Area, in the Western Region, who allegedly parades himself as the Omanhene, has been served with a writ seeking to restrain him from holding himself as such.
Egya Ackah Berenger Flaton, who goes by the stool name Awulae Blay, together with the Paramount Queen Mother of the area, has been dragged before the Sekondi High Court for allegedly taking unlawful possession of the plaintiff’s palace and preventing him from performing his traditional duties.
According to a statement of claim filed by Lawyer John Mercer of Bankole Chambers on behalf of the gazetted Paramount Chief and President of the Eastern Nzema Traditional Council, Awulae Amihere Kpanyile, the defendants, sometime between January 13 and 14, 2025 purportedly claimed to have destooled him and subsequently mobilised a group of men to storm and ransack his palace at Atuabo.
The writ states that the said group allegedly destroyed and looted personal belongings and sacred stool regalia kept within the palace.
Awulae Kpanyile avers that the defendants and their associates have since occupied the Omanhene’s palace, which also serves as his official residence, thereby denying him access and the ability to perform his customary and statutory functions as Paramount Chief.
He further contends that he has suffered physical restraint and attacks from the defendants and their agents, rendering him unable to discharge his traditional duties.
Reliefs Sought
In his suit, the Paramount Chief is seeking three main reliefs: An order compelling the defendants and their associates to vacate the Atuabo Omanhene’s Palace and restraining them from interfering with his occupation, damages for destruction of his properties and an injunction restraining the defendants, their agents, and cronies from celebrating the 2025 Kundum Festival or performing any related functions.
In addition to the substantive suit, the plaintiff has filed a motion for interlocutory injunction to prevent the defendants from occupying the palace or organising the Kundum Festival until the case is finally determined.
With service now effected on the defendants, they are expected to enter appearance and file their defence in accordance with court procedures.
The case, filed on October 20, 2025, is slated to be heard at the Sekondi High Court.
Related Development
In a related twist, the destoolment petition filed against Awulae Amihere Kpanyile by the Paramount Queen Mother—who is also a respondent in the injunction application has been discontinued by the petitioner.
Her lawyer, Emmanuel Berkeley, officially communicated the withdrawal to the committee hearing the matter at the Western Regional House of Chiefs (WRHC), chaired by Obrempong Hima Dekyi, Omanhene of Upper Dixcove.
The committee is yet to pronounce on the Queen Mother’s decision to discontinue the petition. It is also yet to rule on a separate motion seeking to injunct Egya Ackah from holding himself out as Omanhene of Atuabo.
