The entire Kwahu-Pepease Township in the Kwahu East District of the Eastern Region was agog last week Thursday after a five member judicial committee of the National House of Chiefs (NHCs) unanimously pronounced judgement on Kwahu Pepease chieftaincy dispute.
The Kwahu Pepease chieftaincy dispute, which started in 2016, has posed a severe security threat to inhabitants of the area, as the two main feuding factions, Nana Bonsu Ayiripe Ababio, Chief of the area and the queen mother of the PepeaseSantaseBretuo royal family, Nana Foriwah Pokua
The five member panel was chaired by Takyemanhene, Osagyefo Ameyaw Akumfi,with Togbega Patomia Dzekley IV, Nana MprahBasemuna, Krachiwura, Osagyefo Kwame Akonu X and Osabarimah Okokyeredom Sakyiako, Drobohene, as members.
In an interview with The Chronicle on Sunday at her official residence in Pepease, the queen mother, Nana ForiwahPokua expressed her profound gratitude to the people of Kwahu Pepease for their prayers and support throughout the struggle.
Nana Foriwah Pokua stated that citizens of Kwahu Pepease should ignore all rumors circulating that the National House of Chiefs are yet to bring their judgement on the Kwahu Pepease chieftaincy dispute.
She said judgement has been given in her favour and a cost of GHC 25,000 awarded against Nana Bonus Ayiripe, the respondent.
Narrating the circumstances that led to the dispute, Nana Foriwah Pokua indicated that Opanin Yaw Siem’s brother-in-law, who has the same patriarchal lineage as her uncle’s wife, Serwaa, tried “to usurp the throne of the uncle without going through the traditional protocols that the custodians hold in esteem.”
According to her, she refuted earlier rumours about the usurper’s plans to steal the throne since they were not from the same lineage; the usurper being a member of the Osei Mensah Bretuo clan had no claim to the Twidom throne, which belongs to the SantasiBretuo clansmen.
She emphasised that the only ties between the two clan is marriage, which in the traditional rights do not permit one to be enstooled as chief in the other family, consequently the SantasiBretuo Clan was responsible for enstooling the usurper’s mother as Asafohene of Asomanasi.
They called for the matter to be settled amicably within the family but the usurper failed to appear for the meeting, as a result the matter was taken to the Kwahu Traditional Council to serve as an arbitrator.
“It took the Council more than two years to settle the issue, which did not go in my favor, hence appealed the decision at the Eastern Regional House of Chief, where the Kwahu traditional council verdict was sustained.”
Nana Foriwah Pokua continued that she further appealed against the verdict at the National House of Chiefs, where the ruling of both the Kwahu Traditional Council and Eastern Regional House of Chiefs were overturned.
Nana Bonsu Ayiripe Ababio and his team were subsequently fined GH¢25, 000
The queen mother of the area has called on the general public to desist from any traditional transaction particularly purchasing of any land from Kwaku Bonsu, adding that anyone who does that risks losing his money because he is not a Chief.
“I and my family were patient about this Chieftaincy issue and this has helped bring peace. I will plead with the people to exercise patience and when it is time for me to install a new chief, we will let them know.”
She called on all citizens of Kwahu Pepease to unite and pave the way for development to prevail. She added that the kontihene of Kwahu Pepease, Nana Aboagye Nketia II should take over the affairs of tradition and custom until she installs a new chief.
