Asamankese Royal Clan petitions Gov’t over decade-long chieftaincy dispute

The Royal Akua Korang Abrade-Akwamu Clan of Asamankese in the Eastern Region has appealed to the Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs to step in and resolve what they describe as a protracted chieftaincy dispute that has stalled development in the West Akyem Municipality for nearly ten years.

In a petition signed by Abusuapanin Kwesi Asare, the family said successive rulings by the Koforidua High Court, the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, and the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council’s Judicial Committee had all affirmed their right to the Asamankese stool. Despite this, the judgments remain unenforced.

According to the petition, the rulings cleared the way for the installation of their candidate, Nana S. K. Boadu, the former chief of Aworasa, who was enstooled as Osabarima Ateabisa Kentinka Pobi Asomaning, Divisional Chief of Asamankese under the Akyem Abuakwa State. They said all customary rites were performed before he assumed the palace, but he was later removed by national security operatives, allowing a rival claimant—who had lost in every adjudicating body—to occupy the stool.

The family argued that this development undermines both judicial authority and traditional structures, warning that the festering conflict has weakened community unity and slowed local progress. They expressed frustration that previous appeals to the former government went unanswered.

Raising alarm over growing youth agitation, the family gave the current administration under President John Dramani Mahama a three-month ultimatum to enforce the judgments. They cautioned that failure to act could spark violence and instability in the community.

“As a Royal family, we cannot sit by and watch the youth unleash violence, mayhem, and destruction,” the petition said, urging the minister to enforce the decisions of the courts and traditional bodies.

Describing the case as a test of government’s commitment to restoring confidence in the chieftaincy institution, the family called for urgent intervention to bring peace to Asamankese. Copies of the petition were also sent to the President, the Attorney-General, the Minister for Interior, the Chief Justice, the Council of State, the Inspector-General of Police, and regional authorities.The Royal Akua Korang Abrade-Akwamu Clan of Asamankese in the Eastern Region has appealed to the Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs to step in and resolve what they describe as a protracted chieftaincy dispute that has stalled development in the West Akyem Municipality for nearly ten years.

In a petition signed by Abusuapanin Kwesi Asare, the family said successive rulings by the Koforidua High Court, the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, and the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council’s Judicial Committee had all affirmed their right to the Asamankese stool. Despite this, the judgments remain unenforced.

According to the petition, the rulings cleared the way for the installation of their candidate, Nana S. K. Boadu, the former chief of Aworasa, who was enstooled as Osabarima Ateabisa Kentinka Pobi Asomaning, Divisional Chief of Asamankese under the Akyem Abuakwa State. They said all customary rites were performed before he assumed the palace, but he was later removed by national security operatives, allowing a rival claimant—who had lost in every adjudicating body—to occupy the stool.

The family argued that this development undermines both judicial authority and traditional structures, warning that the festering conflict has weakened community unity and slowed local progress. They expressed frustration that previous appeals to the former government went unanswered.

Raising alarm over growing youth agitation, the family gave the current administration under President John Dramani Mahama a three-month ultimatum to enforce the judgments. They cautioned that failure to act could spark violence and instability in the community.

“As a Royal family, we cannot sit by and watch the youth unleash violence, mayhem, and destruction,” the petition said, urging the minister to enforce the decisions of the courts and traditional bodies.

Describing the case as a test of government’s commitment to restoring confidence in the chieftaincy institution, the family called for urgent intervention to bring peace to Asamankese. Copies of the petition were also sent to the President, the Attorney-General, the Minister for Interior, the Chief Justice, the Council of State, the Inspector-General of Police, and regional authorities.