The confusion surrounding the seven (7) year old chieftaincy dispute at Kwahu Nkwatia, in the Eastern Region, has finally come to an end after Nana Boamah Ayiripe III, together with his elders, appeared before the Kwahumanhene, Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II, to swear the oath of allegiance and office to him.
This has affirmed Nana Boamah Ayiripe III’s legitimacy as the chief of Kwahu Nkwatia and Sanaahene of Kwahu Traditional Council
Following the demise of Nana Atuobi Yiadom IV in 2016, after reigning for 60 years, the elders of Kwahu-Nkwatia decided to get a new person to ascend the throne.
Two respected individuals – Samuel Boamah Danso, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of KOFSAM Pharmacy and Nana Yaw Asante – were nominated to compete for the respected Kwahu-Nkwatia stool.
Samuel Boamah Danso was later nominated and installed as chief of Nkwatia in October 2020, with the stool name Nana Boamah Ayiripe III, by the then queen mother, Nana Agyeiwaa Kodie II, Krontihene of Nkwatia, Nana Odei Tutu Ababio and a section of elders and kingmakers.
In an interesting twist, the same queen mother, Nana Agyeiwaa Kodie II, who initially played a key role in the installation of Nana Boamah, in the company of nine (9) others, made a quick U-turn to challenge the legitimacy of Nana Boamah.
Nana Agyeiwaa Kodie II and her cohorts dragged Nana Boamah and elders to the Judicial Committee of the Kwahu Traditional Council, but the latter ruled against them.
Not satisfied with the ruling of the Judicial Committee of the Kwahu Traditional Council, Nana Agyeiwaa Kodie II and the nine others proceeded to the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs to seek redress.
This time, the ruling went in favour of Nana Agyeiwaa Kodie II and the nine others at the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, a situation that compelled Nana Boamah Ayiripe III and his elders to also proceed to the National House of Chiefs to appeal the decision.
A five-member committee, chaired by Oseadeeyo Akumfi Ameyaw IV, was constituted by the National House of Chiefs and they unanimously pronounced judgment in favour of the applicants – Nana Boamah Ayiripe III and his elders.
Other members of the Judicial Committee that sat on the case were; Osagyefo Kwame Akounu X, Togbega Patamia Dzekley VII, Nana Mprah Besemuna III and Okokyeredom Sakyi Ako II.
On Saturday, January 6, 2024 popularly known as ‘Memenda Dapaa’ in the Akan calendar, Nana Boamah Ayiripe III, together with his elders appeared before Kwahumanhene, Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II, to swear the oath of allegiance and office to affirm his legitimacy as the chief of Kwahu Nkwatia.
Then on Sunday, January 7, 2024 which was ‘Akwasidae’, Nana Boamah Ayiripe III and his elders organised an inter-denominational Thanks-giving church service at Nkwatia in the Kwahu East district to give thanks to the Almighty God for his guidance and protection.
Addressing the gathering, Nana Boamah Ayiripe III called for unity among the people and also called his contenders to come on board to develop the area.
The Nkawkaw Area Head for the church of Pentecost, Prophet Foster K. Aniakwaa, who was the Guest Speaker for the occasion, called on the new chief and his elders to make the development of Nkawtia their top priority.
He used the occasion to advise politicians to stop giving money to the electorate during elections, urging them to remember that they are short-changing their destiny by collecting monies to vote for the wrong person.
Residents in the area expressed their joy over the swearing-in ceremony and bringing to an end the long-standing chieftaincy dispute, which caused both life and properties in the area.
