Tension mounts over enstoolment of Apofohene

Apam (Central Region) - Tension is mounting at Apam between the leadership of two asafo companies, Tuafo and Denstifo, on the one hand and the Amissah family on the other, over the selection of a candidate for enstoolment as Apofohene (chief fisherman).

A spokesman for the Amissah family, Kofi Amissah Essandoh, a retired engineer of the Ghana Airways, told the Ghana News Agency at Apam that the Apofohene stool belongs to the family but of late, the leadership of the asafo companies had been trading with the stool, selling it to the highest bidder who might not be a member of the family.

Essandoh traced the history of the succession of members of the Amissah family to the stool until about 12 years ago when one Kweku Attah, who was not a member of the family was enstooled.

He said anytime the stool became vacant the leadership of the asafo companies demanded replacement from the Amissah family. He said when they protested against the enstoolment of Kweku Attah they were told that he was just a caretaker to the stool.

"When Kweku Attah was destooled, Kwa Attoh who was also not a member of the family was enstooled and we were again told that he was also a caretaker." Kwa Attoh has also been destooled and the asafo companies were preparing to enstool another man who is not from our family, he alleged, adding "We have qualified candidates in the family to nominate to the asafo companies."

Essandoh threatened that the patience of his side had run out over the issue and appealed to the government to intervene to ensure that the right thing is done. "We can no longer tolerate the leadership of the asafo companies to be denying us of our right."

When GNA contacted Nana Kwame Ntoah IV, Tufuhene of Apam and Supi Kobena Sakyi, leader of the Dentsi Asafo company they both confirmed Essandor's story. However, Supi Kobena Ogyam of Tuafo Asafo company held a different view saying, anybody at all could be enstooled as Apofohene of the town.