A group known as the Okuapeman Youth has given Minister of State in Charge, in-charge of National Security, Bryan Acheampong, a 48 hour ultimatum to repair the extensive damage that has been caused to the Okuapehene’s palace in Akropong in the Eastern Region.
The group alleges that on the Minister’s instruction, a vigilante group stormed the Okuapehene’s Palace on Wednesday January 24, and damaged the facility which is one of the most revered structures of Okuapeman.
There was a dawn swoop by Police and personnel from the National Security, during which certain persons including Highlife legend, also a subchief at Akropong in the Eastern region George Darko and one other sub chief Asonahene Kwasi Omenako were picked up.
The group in a statement said “We are today bewildered at the manner which Brian Acheampong and his team in a flourishing Vigilante Rambo style have caused seriously damage to our revered Ancestral structure in Okuapeman on the early morning of 24th of January 2018 in Akropong Akwapim.
“As Concerned Youth of Okuapeman, we want to alert the Minister that the magnanimity and benevolence of the Okuapeman people must not be taken for granted.
What happened yesterday was a slap on the face and an insult on the face of Okuapeman where wrong Politicians/Leaders that few illegal members can sit down and determine who to elect.”
Below is the full statement
OKUAPEMAN YOUTH GIVES BRIAN ACHEAMPONG 48 HOURS TO REPAIR DAMAGE CAUSED AT OKUAPEHENE PALACE
As we wait patiently for issues to be resolved, we the Concerned Youth of Okuapeman will want to call on Brian Acheampong of the Flag Staff House and his team of members that stormed the Okuapenehe’s palace in a Rambo style on the dawn of Wednesday, must with immediate effect repair the breach and extensive damage that they have caused to the Okuapehenes palace in Okuapeman.
This caution has become necessary because they have taken us for granted. The Deep respect for leaders is a pillar of the culture of the Akwapim people, which is one of Ghana’s decent ethnic groups, has been taken for granted.
If this is not done, we will use all constitutional laws and right procedures to organize a demonstration to show our displeasure on the current happenings in Okuapeman and voice out our concerns.
BrianAcheampong should know that his political temerity ends at where he’s an MP. He has touched the tail of Okuapeman and therefore we the indigenes of the 17 towns of Okuapeman would not sit down aloof and fold our arms.
They also had the political temerity to arrest some of our very respected chiefs in Okuapeman the AsonaHene and the Tufu Hene of Okuapeman this we see as an attempt to disgrace us and run our chieftaincy institution down.
We also want to alert him if he doesn’t know that the Okuapehene Ahenefie is not a government installation for him and his flourishing vigilante group to storm and destroy as we are seeing all over the country with impudence.
We are today bewildered at the manner which Brian Acheampong and his team in a flourishing Vigilante Rambo style have caused seriously damage to our revered Ancestral structure in Okuapeman on the early morning of 24th of January 2018 in Akropong Akwapim.
As Concerned Youth of Okuapeman, we want to alert the Minister that the magnanimity and benevolence of the Okuapeman people must not be taken for granted.
What happened yesterday was a slap on the face and an insult on the face of Okuapeman where wrong Politicians/Leaders that few illegal members can sit down and determine who to elect.
This we see as a ploy to scatter the work of the committee chaired by the Adontenhene of Akuapem and Aburihene and other respected chiefs.
The committee was set up last during an end-of-year meeting of the Akuapem Traditional Council at Akropong in the Eastern region.
We maintain that our understanding is that the aim of the committee was to meet with the Sakyiabea gate of the Asona Royal Family that was expected to produce the next Akuapemhene and settle the misunderstanding that had arisen.
The Sakyiabea family had produced one person to the throne namely, OdekyeKwasiAkufo and someone have also brought OdekyeKojoKesse who is a tattoo royal, who was disqualified, we are currently waiting on the Traditional Council to bring the report of the committee and come to finality.
We as citizens of the Eastern Region of Ghana are proud of the successes that Okuapeman have chalked in the areas of Peace, Unity, Development, Education and would want to maintain it as such.
As the youth we also call on also President Akufo-Addo to prevail upon political appointees and high-profile civil servants who are posted to the municipality to stop meddling in the chieftaincy affair of Okuapeman, because such behaviors “are aggravating the problem”.
We also want to thank the Chairman of the committee of eminent chiefs in charge working to bring peace to Okuapeman for their tireless efforts so far and their bravery.
Concerned Youth of Okuapeman with one voice based on the concerns that has been raised earlier and reechoing it once again.
The deafening silence of the Minister seemed to have legitimized the criminal act. But we promise him the laws of the land would work.
As Concerned Youth of Okuapeman, we share the concerns about the consequences of the imminent protracted litigation in the Region.
The looming chieftaincy dispute could negatively affect the development of the entire Akuapem Traditional Area and a possible domino effect in the Eastern Region as a whole.
Thank You.
Convener Maxwell Okamafo Asamani Addo
