Debrah ascends to Kade gilded throne; Osaberimah Asare Twe II

Residents, friends and sympathizers of the Kade Stool in the Eastern Region were beside themselves with joy on Tuesday, December 31, 2013, following the installation of Osaberimah Asare Twe II, as the new Chief of Kade.

Known in private life as Yaw Debrah, Osaberimah Asare Twe II, holding the hilt of the symbol of power of Kademan, swore before the Kibi Abontendong hene of the Akyem Abuakwa Royal Stool, Osaberimah Boakye Dankwah, and the packed crowd at the Okyehene’s Palace that with the exception of sickness, he was ready to serve Kademan in every capacity within his power.

He was carried shoulder-high across the length and breadth of the Kibi Township after he was installed as the chief by jubilant youth from Kade who had thronged the palace to witness the installation.

The Kibi Abontendong hene who represented Okyehene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin also assured Kademan that, as long as they continued to respect the customs of the land and not misbehave, Okyeman was ready to defend them to the hilt. Osaberimah Asare Twe II’s installation came on the back of the ruling of Thursday, December 5, 2013, that Osaberimah Agyare Tenadu II, the beleaguered Chief of Kade be ousted and a new chief installed with immediate effect.

It would be recalled that, Obaapanyin Akua Fosua, Abusuapanyin Otibu Asare, Nana Banchie Darko Ampem, Krontihene, Asafoatse Kofi Tinyase and Asafoatse Yaw Danso on 9th October 2012, called on the council to address the violation of the traditional oath and failure by the chief to uphold all norms required of him as chief of the town.

They alleged that the chief, who was a defendant in the matter, had violated the code of ethics governing the chieftaincy institution and that the refusal of the kingmakers from taking the necessary action, allowed any principal to institute that action.

To support their stand, they referred to the ruling by the Judicial Committee of the Akyem Abuakwa council on the 1st of May, 2001 in the matter of Nana Kwame Fanti Aduamoah II, Asonafohene of Kade (plaintiff) Vrs Nana Agyakoran Adutwum II Kadehene (Defendant) which plaintiff tendered as exhibit “A” attached to their Affidavit in support.

According to them “the Ghana law report of 1977 page 348 paragraph 3 supports the contention that even the Krontihene alone who is a kingmaker can bring up an action”.

The defendant (Osaberima Agyare Tenadu II) pleaded not guilty of all the charges against him. He stated that all the charges leveled against him by the plaintiffs were unfounded.

The ousted chief argued that that the claim of embezzlement against him was absolute and that the bank statement the defendant tendered in court as exhibit did not tally with any transaction of the Kade Stool Account.

The Chairman of the Judicial Committee of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council, Osaberima Kwame Koh II, giving his ruling at a sitting at Ofori Panyin Fie in Kibi, noted that the judicial committee found the Chief guilty of 14; out of the 17 charges leveled against him.

Also, the committee ruled that the exhibit by the defendant (Osaberimah Agyare Tenadu II) did not relate to the matter before the judicial committee and ordered for a custom to be performed to destool the defendant and a replacement made by the kingmakers.

The council also ordered Osaberimah Agyare Tenadu II, to hand over all the stool paraphernalia to the Abusuapanyin for safe keeping until a new Chief was enstooled.

The council further warned the ousted chief not to present himself as the Chief of Kade to the stool land office at Koforidua for the purpose of collecting “royalties”, and was also asked to pay GHC 5,000.00 as penalty to the court.