Residents of Boagyaa-Kyekyewere in the AtwimaKwanwoma District have complained about acts of intimidation by a self-styled caretaker chief (odikro) over the past three years.
The odikro, Nana Appiagyei Danka, is said to have been installed in that capacity by the chief of Boagyaa, Nana Osei Nyame Boateng on the blind side of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who had tasked the Samanghene, Nana Osei Kwaku II and four others to resolve the impasse between one Nana Yaw Boakye, Odikro of Kyekyewere since 1997 and his overlord, Nana Osei Nyame Boateng, the Boagyaahene.
The spokespersons, who pleaded for anonymity, disclosed that in 2016 the Asantehene tasked the Saamanghene to probe destoolment charges against the Kyekyewereodikro, Nana Yaw Boakye and report back to him.
The Saamanghene was to be assisted in the probe by Nana Sananahene, Otumfuo Kyeame Baafour Kantankrankye, Nana Omantenhene and Nana Memmahene.
In November 2017, the Boagyaahene reportedly installed Nana Appiagyei Danka as a new Odikro for Boagyaa-Kyekyewere at Boaggyaa Maase and later introduced to the community on December 1, 2017.
The new Odikro is said to have broken into the palace and stool room and taken over the running of the community
The residents complain that following the purported installation of the new Odikro, lands acquired by persons from the old Odikro are reportedly being taken over by Nana Appiagyei Danka, irrespective of whether one has valid documents covering such lands or not.
As a result, the residents are said to be living in fear of intimidation by the new Odikro, accused of using the police, land guards and machomen to threaten landowners in the community.
The new Odikro has also been accused of extorting money from residents for the regularisation of their documents.
According to the complainants, the new Odikro has rezoned the lands earmarked for playing grounds, at the expense of a modern layout by the old Odikro.
He is also said to have engaged excavators and bulldozers to dig up an old cemetery for allocation for building purposes and destruction of farmlands.
They said since the impasse between Nana Boakye and Boagyaahene was yet to be resolved, let alone reported to the Asantehene for the needful to be done, the status quo must be respected until the Asantehene instructed otherwise, hence the complaint and a call for the intervention of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
But Nana Appiagyei Danka, claimed on record that he is the new Odikro of Boagyaa Kyekyewere for the past two years and ten months and has built a new palace for the community and a police station yet to be commission by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who has praised him for the palace and police station projects.
According to him, Nana Yaw Boakye has handed over caretaker duties to the Boagyaahene on his destoolment.
When contacted, the Samanghene told The Chronicle that the Boagyaahene destooled Nana Yaw Boakye on charges of double sale of lands three years ago.
He said Nana Yaw Boakye had approached him (Samanghene) to plead with the Boagyaahene on his behalf to pardon him (Nana Boakye), but his plea was rejected by the Boagyaahene and his Head of Family (Abusuapanin), culminating in Nana Boakye’s destoolment.
Otumfuo’s Samanghene also explained that once the Boagyaahene had destooled Nana Boakye there was nothing he could do about the situation.
The Samanghene further explained that Otumfuo had not appointed any committee to investigate the charges against Nana Boakye and, therefore, there was no report whatsoever, let alone pronounce a verdict in the case.
He said the Boagyaahene took decisions he deemed right and that the case has thus been settled.
He, however, confirmed that the Boagyaahene has since introduced the new Odikro to the Asantehene.
On his part, the Boagyaahene, Nana Osei Nyame Boateng II confirmed that he destooled Nana Boakye three years ago upon charges preferred against him before the Asantehene.
He said it was natural for the new Odikro to regularise the registration of lands to avoid double sale of land to unsuspecting developers.
While the Boagyaahene affirms that Otumfuo Osei Tutu appointed a panel to investigate the case, the Samanghene denies the appointment of a committee by the King.
The post Boagyaa-Kyekyewere torn over two Caretaker Chiefs…Residents call for Otumfuo’s intervention appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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