Odeneho Kwafo Akoto is Paramount Chief of Akwamu- Supreme Court affirms
The Supreme Court consisting of Justice Bafffoe-Bonney as President, Justice Avril Johnson, Justice Agnes Dzordzie, Justice Nene A. Amegatcher and Justice YonnyKulendi have affirmedOdenehoKwafoAkoto III as the Paramount chief of Akwamu.
By a 5-0 unanimous decision at the Supreme Court yesterday, the Supreme Court ruled that OdenehoKwafoAkoto was validly nominated, elected and installed the Paramount Chief of Akwamu in accordance with the custom and practices of the people of Akwamu.
The case involved AbusuapanyinKojoKyerAddaquay and Abrewatia Love AdwoSom as the petitioners, and Nana Afrakoma II, Nana Nyarkoa (Benkumhemaa), Nana Asomani (Amanguahene) and KwabenaOwiredu as the respondents.
The petitioners challenged the eligibility of OdenehoKwafoAkoto III, the Paramount Chief of Akwamu, stating that the chief was an outsider who was not from the royal family.
They also held that, the process through which he ascended the throne 11 years ago, was not in conformity with customs of Akwamuman.
According to the ruling, as per the evidence, facts, history, custom and all the exhibits presented before them affirmed that to ascend to the black stool of Akwamu, a candidate must of necessity come from either the house of Yaa Ansaa or YaaBotwe.
The court also said that there was no established system of rotation in Akwamu to ascend to the Paramount stool.
It said that as far as the history of the people of Akwamu was concerned, “the office of Queen mother is not alien to the people of Akwamu” and that the fourth respondent, OdenehoKwafoAkoto III, was validly nominated, elected and installed the paramount chief of Akwamu in accordance with the custom and practices of the people of Akwamu”.
In a remark after the judgment, Justice Nene Amegatcher observed that each party to the suit had got something from the judgment. The Court made no order regarding an award of legal costs in favour or against either party to the suit.
Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III, noble as King Solomon has called for unity at Akwamu, saying “this victory is not for one group, it is for the whole Akwamu so everyone should not be shy, let’s all come together as one big family and develop Akwamuman”. -Atinkaonline.com
