I am still the Akyem Kotoku Chief

...Nana Frimpong-Manso IV declares

The Omanhene of the Akyem Kotoku Traditional Area in the Eastern Region, Nana Frimpong Manso IV, has rebutted and remarked as a “complete and absolute fabrication,” widely circulated stories by the Queenmother (Hemaa) of his Traditional area, Nana Akua Asantewa, and her kinsmen to the effect that he (Nana) has been destooled as the legitimate chief of Akyem Kotoku Traditional Area and his name expunged from the Register of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs.

It would be recalled that the media reported of bloody clashes within the Akyem Kotoku Traditional area between supporters of Nana Frimpong Manso and those of the Attafuah rival faction leading to three people receiving gunshot wounds.

Against this backdrop, the Queen mother (Hemaa) and the chief of Akyem Enyinase, Nana Gyamadu (from Attafuah), declared that nobody had been enstooled as chief for the Akyem Kotoku traditional area, and that they would deal with anyone who claims to be the chief.

Fuming, the Queen Mother appealed to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mr. Paul Tarwiah Quaye, to cause the immediate arrest of Oseadeayo Nana Frimpong-Manso for ostensibly masterminding the renewal of chieftaincy disputes in the area.

Nana Akua Asantewa, who was enstooled over 51 years ago, further proposed a new paramount chief for the Akyem Kotoku Traditional Area.

Nana Akua Asantewa who is an overlord in Oda, argued that she could not fathom why Nana Oseadeayo Frimpong-Manso whose gazette had been withdrawn after a litigation case against him at the Supreme Court in Koforidua on February 4, 2012, still parades himself as the rightful paramount chief of the area; this she remarked, portends confusion in the traditional area.

But in a quick rebuttal, the spokesperson for Omanhene Nana Frempong Manso IV, Mr. Kwesi Osei-Owusu, in an exclusive meeting with the Citizen rubbished all the allegations, saying the destoolment of a chief, where necessary, was done by the ‘Nanahemaa’ (Queen mother) together with the kingmakers of the area, indicating that the Frimpong Manso family did not only comprise of the Queenmother.

Mr. Osei-Owusu who doubles as the Executive Director of Fair Work Ghana Limited, dealers in water pumps, was of the strong opinion that the kingmakers had not at any point in time said that Omanhene Nana Frimpong Manso was not the right chief.

In view of this, he announced that the gazette that Nana Frempong-Manso was yet to have, as a chief, does not make him an imposter; explaining that “The gazette will only give him the mandate to commerce business plans between the community and investors.”

He added that though the National House of Chiefs had gazetted Omanhene Nana Frimpong Manso IV, the court had authorized them to refund Nana’s payment and write an official letter indicating they cannot grant him the gazette.

Mr. Osei-Owusu narrated that a year after Omanhene Nana Frimpong-Manso was enstooled in 2000, the Attafuah family’s petition for an injunction to prevent him from acting as Omanhene was thrown out by the Judiciary Committee of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs “because in the Akan culture, the processes of enstoolment is clear and all steps were followed in his case.”

“We wish to re-reiterate our earlier point that the Supreme Court judgment has not revoked the gazette of Omanhene Nana Frempong Manso and that he is still the legitimate chief,” he said.

Mr. Osei-Owusu therefore called on the public to disregard the unfounded accusations against his chief.

He accused the Queen mother of not being up to date with the on-going chieftaincy procedures of the Akyem Kotoku Traditional Paramount Stool.

He noted that the Akyem Agona Royal family of Ayem Kotoku stretching from Abenase, Hwidiem, Akyem Manso, Asamankese and Akyem Oda among others which constitutes Frimpong-Manso gate, had not at any point in time taken a decision to destool Nana Frimpomg-Manso.

On the contrary, he said the family has since been meeting to try to resolve the differences between the Queen mother and Nana Frimpong-Manso in order to bring peace and stability in the area.

But Mr.Osei was quick to appeal to Nana Frinpong-Manso and the Queenmother to assist in facilitating the peace building process initiated by the Estern Regional Minister Mr. Victor Smith to bring lasting peace to the Akyem Kotoku Traditional Area.

“We are appealing to all family members of Akyem Kotoku Traditional Area of Oda to refrain from making any inflammatory statements which would further worsen the present chieftaincy crisis in the area,” Mr. Osei added.**