Kingmakers in the Akuapem town of Akropong have defied President Addo Addo’s Executive Instrument banning mass gathering, to install a new Chief-Akuapemhene.
The Akuapem traditional area had lacked a paramount Chief for about five years now, following the heated tussle for the throne after the demise of the then paramount chief Oseadeyo Addo Dankwa.
Multiple royal families laid claim to the vacant throne until a Judicial Committee stepped in to settle the chieftaincy crisis.
However, recently, the ultimate female kingmaker “Abrewatia” of the Sakyibea royal family presented one Odehye Kwadwo Kesse to other kingmakers as the chosen Chief.
Following the announcement, several hundreds of Akuapem residents thronged to the street to welcome their new chief amidst heavy security presence.
The installation also came shortly after the Judicial Committee of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs nullified the installation of one Odehye Kwasi Akuffu as the Akuapemhene and directed that he cannot hold himself as same.
However, the entire ceremony to outdoor the new chief is likely to threaten residents of Akropong with possible Covid-19 infections as the country banned such mass gatherings over a month ago to contain the spread of the highly infectious coronavirus.