Kwahu Chief's Palace Attacked by Gunmen in Police Uniform, Queenmother Reportedly Abducted
- Tension is mounting in Kwahu, Eastern Region, following an attack on the chief of the Kwahu Traditional Area
- The attack on the Kwahuhene's palace was carried out by armed men allegedly representing the state
- The Nkawkaw and Kwahu Divisional Police Commands have responded to allegations relating to the attack
The Palace of the Paramount Chief of the Kwahu Traditional Area at Abene was attacked on November 17.
Citi News reported that the dawn attack was carried out by armed men dressed in police uniforms, claiming to be from the National Security.
Source: Facebook
Adom News reported that the chief, Daasebre Akuamoah Boateng III, said the armed men stormed the palace at Abene, where the queen mother resides, amid gunfire.
Residents reported hearing gunshots inside the palace before the alleged abduction of the Kwahuhemaa, Nana Adwoa Gyemfua, who was at the palace at the time of the attack.
In addition, the official Toyota Land Cruiser of the Kwahuhene was taken during the raid. Tracking information indicates that the vehicle is en route to Accra.
The motive behind the raid and the abduction remains unclear.
Both the Nkawkaw and Kwahu Divisional Police Commands have stated that they had no prior knowledge of any operations conducted by the personnel who identified themselves as national security agents.
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Authorities are yet to provide official statements, and investigations into the incident are reportedly underway.
Controversy around Kwahu stool
In October 2019, the Kwahu Traditional Council destooled the then-paramount chief, Kwahumanhene Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II.
He was removed over his alleged involvement in some financial scandal at the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB), where he was serving as a board chairman.
People in the Kwahu traditional area protested and demanded the removal of Kwahumanhene Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II over the purported financial misconduct.
The Kwahu Traditional Council considered a petition submitted by the youth before removing the Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II.
The Krontihene explained the circumstances that led to the removal of the paramount chief saying:
"We are doing this to restore peace in Kwahu because maintaining the Kwahumanhene Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II will not auger well for the peaceful co-existence of Kwahu. The elders have decided that the chief must step down.
What were the accusations against Agyapong II?
A Ghanaian businessman, Collins Darkwa, filed a petition against the Board Chairman to the Office of the President. He accused the board chair of extorting him to facilitate a GH¢12 million loan.
Collins Darkwa said Daasebre Akuamoah Agyaong II asked for an initial payment of GH¢50,000 and additional amounts, totalling GH¢2,408,000, to approve the loan.
He added that he fulfilled Daasebre's requests because he was under pressure to meet his suppliers' logistics demands for a cashew supply contract.
Source: Instagram
However, the Kwahumanhene allegedly did not fulfil his part of the bargain. Collins said he instead used his position to threaten him for further payments.
Based on the complainant's account, the chief threatened to use his position as board chair to stop his business if he did not comply.
Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II was appointed board of directors chairman in 2021.
BoG directs ADB Board Chair to resign
YEN.com.gh reported that Agyapong II's resignation came after the Bank of Ghana demanded he vacate his position to allow for an investigation into the accusations.
In a letter to Agyapong II, the central bank said his position was untenable after his purported malfeasance.
Citi News reported that the directive was in line with Section 103 (2)(d) of the Banks and Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions Act, 2016 (ACT 930).
Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
