Okyeman Courts Chaos as Petition Filed to Destool Begoro Chief for Partisanship

The Kingdom of Kyebi ruled by Okyehene Amoatia Ofori Panyin seething with a potential implosion from political bias as a group of petitioners have targeted a chief of Begoro for reportedly showing a soft spot for John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

This open bias is against the backdrop of open support for President Akufo Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) by Paramount Chief of Akyem Abuakwa, Amoatia Ofori Panyin, who is incidentally a cousin of Akufo Addo.

The Petitioners consisting of the chief of Otwereso/Odau and Regent of the Benkum Division, the linguist of the chief, and the Twafohene of Begoro, are seeking to destool the Ankobeahene of the Begoro stool for attending a durbar of chiefs organised by the NDC Flag bearer John Mahama.

They have subsequently filed a petition at the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council seeking a declaration to destool the Ankobeahene, a development that is certain to throw the entire Begoro into chaos as it heats up political rivalry between supporters of the NDC and NPP.

The petition, lodged with the local customary tribunal, claims that the respondent has brought the name of the Begoro stool into disrepute and political ridicule by involving it in partisan politics.

The petitioners, in their submission to the tribunal, claim that the respondent, known to them as the Ankobeahene of the Begoro stool, made explicit partisan political statements.

According to the petitioners, the respondent, purporting to speak on behalf of Nananom (traditional authorities) and the people of Begoro, made assertions including labelling the NDC flag bearer as the incoming President of Ghana.

According to the petitioners, the respondent also called on the people of Begoro to vote massively for the NDC, claiming that the party’s 24-hour economic policy would rescue the community from poverty. Furthermore, the petitioners state that the respondent alluded to the gods being invoked against the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for breaking their “eight-mantra,” and warned the people of Begoro to be vigilant against any vote-rigging agenda of the current government.

The respondent allegedly also mentioned a dubious means by which the opposition NDC’s parliamentary candidate allegedly lost in previous elections, and urged the people of Begoro to vote overwhelmingly for him in the upcoming elections.

The Regent of the Benkum Division, acting as the chief petitioner, expressed his embarrassment at the respondent’s actions, as he had neither sought permission nor consent to attend the NDC campaign meeting. When the chief petitioner summoned the respondent before the stool elders to explain his behaviour, the respondent allegedly disrespected the summons and failed to appear.

The petitioners argue that the respondent’s conduct not only disrespects the customs and traditions of the Begoro stool but also brings it into disrepute, public hatred, anger, and ridicule.

The petition opens up a can of worms of chiefs in Ghana who have openly expressed consent to a political figure, including those who openly supported the second-term bid of President Akufo Addo but were not rebuked.

Meanwhile, the customary tribunal will now review the petition and summon the respondent to appear for hearings. The outcome of the case will not only have implications for the Ankobeahene but also the preservation of traditional customs and the separation of traditional leadership from partisan politics.