Kumawu chiefs shot down

The newly installed paramount chief of the Kumawu Traditional Area (KTA) in the Ashanti Region, Barima Sarfo Tweneboa Kodua, has asserted that his installation was legitimate and called on the public to disregard statements that he was imposed on the people.

According to him, the claims by the three former chiefs of Wonoo and Akwamu, Aduana and Akyempem clans that he was imposed on the people were palpable falsehood laden with half-baked information to deceive right-thinking members of society.

Barima Tweneboa Kodua was responding to assertions by Nana Akwasi Baffoe II, Akwamuhene; Nana Sarfo Agyekum II, Aduanahene and Nana Okyere Krapah, Akyempemhene that his selection and installation felt short of due process and contravened established Asante customary practices and tradition.

He explained that out of the three former chiefs only the Akwamuhene, Nana Baffoe, who was also the chief of Wonoo, was a kingmaker. “The other two were simply ordinary chiefs of the traditional area who had no role to play in the selection process,” he added.

He said prior to his selection and installation, there were four kingmakers, including the Gyasehene, Nifahene, Krontihene and Akwamuhene.

The Omanhene told DAILY GUIDE that all the four affirmed his nomination and consequently agreed to allow him to ascend to the stool, but the Krontihene in particular became ill, while preparations for the big ceremony were underway.

“The Akwamuhene refused to take part, leaving the Gyasehene and the Nifahene who approved my candidacy,” he stated further, and continued that the two and other chiefs saw to his installation.

Barimah Sarfo said the Akwamuhene and the rest of his ‘gang chiefs’ decided to sabotage the process, opted out and failed to swear the Oath of Allegiance to him.

He described Nana Akwasi Baffoe, Nana Sarfo Agyekum and Nana Okyere Darko Yiadom as aggrieved people who had been angered by their destoolment which followed their insubordination and non-compliance with a directive by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, on October 28, 2014 at Manhyia.

“Otumfuo did not destool them; he only ordered their destoolment for failing to swear the Oath of Allegiance to me as the Omanhene of Kumawu Traditional Area, which order was carried out on 13 November, 2014,” Barimah Sarfo Kodua stated.

He added that the rites were accordingly performed at “Abosambuoso” at the forecourt of the Kumawu palace to signal their destoolment.

Among the destooled chiefs is Nana Okyere Darko Fordjour, the Nsumankwahene.

‘Bragging Talk’

Barima Sarfo Teneboa Kodua described the assertion of the obviously embattled chiefs as a ‘bragging talk,’ indicating that the threesome could not dare the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, while questioning their locus at Kumawu.

According to him, Kumawu remained an integral part of Asanteman with Otumfuo as the king. “Nothing more nothing less,” he submitted.