Gomoa Chief Quits

Information reaching DAILY GUIDE indicates that Nana Ankamu Otabir IX has resigned as Chief of Ankamu and Ankobeahemaa of the Gomoa Ajumako Traditional Area, headed by Obrempong Nyanful Krampah XI.

According to a source close to the Gomoa Ajumako Traditional Council, Nana Otabir, together with his accomplices, went to the Ancestral house of Gomoa Ankamu Anona Yoko Royal family house and took away three black stools kept in the royal house by their ancestors.

The source further stated that Nana Otabir abdicated because he insulted and called the paramount Chief of the area, Obrempong Nyanful Krampah a slave, hence the traditional council’s decision to call him to order.

In an interview, Nana Oteiba II, the queenmother of Gomoa Ankamu, who doubles as the Gomoa Ankamu State Ankobeahemaa, confirmed the story, saying Nana Otabir was not forced to vacate his position but he personally resigned as Chief of Ankamu and Ankobeahene of the Gomoa Ajumako Traditional Council.

She added that Nana Otabir’s resignation was necessitated by the gross disrespect shown to the Paramount Chief, sub-chiefs under the traditional council and other opinion leaders in the Yoko Royal family.

The queenmother hinted that on October 3rd, 2011 she and the Yoko Ebusuapanyin, Ampiah Mensah went to the family house early in the morning to inspect the black stools kept at the family house at Apam.

Upon completing their routine check, she said they met the mother of Nana Ankamu and the chief who came to ask the caretaker of the stool, Kow Mantey to handover the stool to them or risk his life.

Mr. Mantey however refused their request but Nana Otabir returned to the family house around 1:15am with his accomplices who helped him to break the door to the room where the black stool was kept.

Nana Oteiba hinted that Nana Otabir asked them to open the room to allow him to pour libation although he had earlier on moved to the house to pour libation.

According to Nana Oteiba, they quickly reported the case around 3am to the Apam District Police who came and witnessed what had happened, a situation she said compelled the police to invite the two parties in the morning.

The Police subsequently advised them to take the matter to the traditional council since it was a chieftaincy issue.

DAILY GUIDE chanced upon a resignation letter dated October 2nd, 2011 in which Nana Otabir claimed he lost respect in the traditional area and among his colleague chiefs.

“The high level of favouritism and nepotism on the part of Obrempong Nyanful Krampah XI to his sub-chiefs as well as interfering in the affairs Gomoa Ankamu Royal Family are all factors that have pushed me to resign as chief of Ankamu,” the letter stated.

The traditional council, in documents on its meetings which is in the possession of DAILY GUIDE revealed that since Gomoa Ankamu is part of the Gomoa Ankamu Traditional Area, Nana Otabir cannot hold himself as Chief of the area under the traditional council.

DAILY GUIDE has learnt that all the needed procedures to destool Nana Otabir have been undertaken; a situation Nana Oteiba noted has brought peace and sanity to the traditional area.

A document dated November 18th, 2011 signed and copied to the Regional Police Commander, the Central Regional House of Chiefs headed by Daasebre Kwebu Ewusie categorically stated that since Nana Otabir has been asked to present a live sheep, bottles of schnapps and a cash by the Gomoa Ankamu Traditional Area, it shows that he has destooled himself since a chief cannot slaughter a sheep for his fellow chief.

DAILY GUIDE has gathered that Nana Otabir defied the orders of the regional house of chiefs by failing to return the stolen black stool even though he and his mother claimed ownership of the stool since its bares their name “Otabir.”

Speaking on the significance of the stool to the traditional council, Nana Oteiba revealed that the one who has stolen the stool would bear the consequences.

From Desmond K. Dapaah, Apam