The Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council has demanded an unqualified apology from the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Akyemansa in the Eastern Region, Madam Linda Ahenkora, over what it describes as her deliberate intrusion into chieftaincy matters.
The Traditional Council accused the DCE of siding with the Etweresohene, Ofosu Kwabi, whom it described as a “secessionist”, and unlawfully recognising and elevating him to the status of a traditional council through her conduct.
In a letter dated August 12, 2026, and signed by the State Secretary, D.M. Ofori-Atta, the council directed Madam Ahenkora to withdraw a July 7, 2026, letter which purportedly conferred paramountcy status on the Etwereso Stool.
The council said the DCE’s action amounted to an improper intervention in matters reserved for constitutionally and customarily recognised chieftaincy institutions.
“Nananoom” further demanded an immediate apology from the DCE, warning that failure to comply would result in the matter being escalated to the appropriate authorities.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council has not appointed any person as Regent for the Etwereso Stool. The purported appointment of a Regent was an inadvertent omission, and the anomaly was rectified when the attention of Nananoom was drawn to the matter at the State Council meeting,” Mr Ofori-Atta stated.
The council stressed that it was fully aware of the lawful customary processes governing the selection, nomination, appointment, installation and deposition of chiefs.
Mr Ofori-Atta said the council’s position on the status of the embattled Etweresohene, as expressed in its previous correspondence, remained unchanged.
He maintained that the DCE ought to have exercised caution and sought clarification from the Ofori Panin Fie before taking any action concerning the disputed stool.
“A District Chief Executive cannot confer paramount status on any person or stool under the pretext of maintaining public peace, public order and administrative clarity,” the council stated.
The Traditional Council further invoked Article 270(2) of the 1992 Constitution, arguing that even Parliament is prohibited from enacting laws that confer on any person or authority the power to accord or withdraw recognition from a chief, or otherwise detract from the honour and dignity of the institution of chieftaincy.
“The administration, registration, public notification and recognition of a chief is entrusted to the constitutionally and statutorily designated chieftaincy institutions, not to any MMDCEs,” the letter stated.
It added: “With respect, a DCE cannot confer chieftaincy titles, determine disputed customary status, confer paramount ranks, and decide the allegiance of chiefs by an unlawful exercise of executive fiat.”
The council argued that traditional councils are established through law and custom, while paramountcies are principally derived from the customary law and historical constitution of traditional communities.
Nananoom reiterated that the Etwereso Stool remains a sub-stool of the Benkum Division of the Ofori Panin Stool.
The council said the Okyenhene remained committed to pursuing peaceful processes to resolve the Etwereso matter but would not abdicate his responsibility over the disputed stool.
It, therefore, urged the Akyemansa DCE to withdraw her July 7 letter and apologise to the Okyeman Traditional Council to prevent the matter from escalating further.
By Maxwell Kudekor
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