Five Kumawu Chiefs Destooled

Five chiefs of the Kumawu Traditional Area have been de-stooled for violating their oath of office. The affected chiefs are Nana Kwasi Baffoe, Chief of Wonoo and Akwamuhene of Kumawu, Nana Okyere Bediako, Bodweasehene, Nana Sarfo Agyekum, alias Joe Fly, Aduanahene of Kumawu, Nana Okyere Darko Fordjour, Nsumankwaahene, and Nana Okyere Krapa Yiadom, Akyempimhene. Stool elders yesterday slaughtered a sheep on a �Bonsambuo� at the forecourt of the Kumawu Palace, amid libation pouring, to symbolise their destoolment. All, but families of the Aduanahene and Nsumankwaahene, were present at the rites. As a result, the Kumawuhene has directed the heads of families of the destooled chiefs and elders to take inventory of the stool regalia and properties, pending the nomination of new chiefs. Earlier, on Monda,y the Kumawu Traditional Council (KTC), presided over by the newly installed Chief of Kumawu, Barima Sarfo Tweneboa Kodua, had officially conveyed Otumfuo�s royal directives to the family heads of the affected chiefs. Their destoolment follows non-compliance with a directive by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, at a meeting of Kumawu stool elders at Manhyia Palace on Tuesday October 28, 2014. On Monday November 3, 2014, Otumfuo ordered their destoolment for having failed to swear the oath of allegiance to the new chief on November 30, and also failing to accompany the then Kumawuhene-elect to the swearing in ceremony at the Manhyia Palace. The Krontihene of Kumawu, Nana Koduah Peprah, who was taken ill on the day of the installation of the then Kumawuhene-elect, has been directed by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to swear the oath of allegiance to the new Kumawuhene upon recovery. Barima Tweneboa Kodua directed the affected families to look for replacements as soon as possible, and charged the heads of families and elders to take charge of the communities, pending the nomination of new chiefs. The Kumawuhene noted that having performed the rites in accordance with the directives of Otumfuo, the destooled chiefs had not right to hold themselves out or function as such, and cautioned that any of them who conducted himself as such, would be made to face the consequences. As a result, the Bodwease community has been entrusted into the care of the Gyasehene, Nana Oduro Sarpong, while the Abusuapanin and Obaapanin of Wonoo have been directed to take charge of Wonoo. The Kumawuhuene has also cautioned the heads of families of the destooled chiefs to ensure that they nominate persons who can partner him (Barima) to contribute to the development of the traditional area. The Queenmother of Kumawu, Nana Serwaa Amponsah, who called for unity, has indicated that all nominees for the vacant stools would be vetted to ensure sanity in the chieftaincy institution. The embattled Aduanahene of the Kumawu Traditional Area, Nana Agyekum, has bragged in a media report that Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has no power to destool him, because he does not directly swear an oath of allegiance to him. According to him, as Aduanahene, he swears an oath of allegiance to the Kumawuhene, and that if for anything at all, it is the Kumawuhene who can destool him, after going through the due process, which was duly done yesterday. Meanwhile, a seven-member committee has been appointed to plan the observation of the first Akwasidae by the Kumawu Traditional Council, under the leadership of Barima Sarfo Tweneboa Kodua on December 7 under the theme: �Unity and Development.� Nana Serwaa Amponsah is presiding over the Akwasidae Planning Committee with the Registrar of the KTC, Mr. Ben. Yamoah Manu, as Member Secretary, while the Nseniehene, Saamanhene, Kyeame Adu, Amanfromhene, Gyasehene and Etia Obaapanin are members.