The Kwahu Traditional Area, long admired for its rich culture, vibrant festivals, and resilient heritage, is currently grappling with a deeply rooted chieftaincy crisis that demands urgent attention, reconciliation, and bold leadership. The recent pronouncements and actions surrounding the legitimacy of the Kwahu stool have cast a shadow over the peace and unity that the Kingdom has historically represented.
In a critical moment such as this, it is imperative that all traditional leaders, elders, and stakeholders, particularly those from Abene – set aside personal interests, pride, and entrenched divisions, and allow historical truth and dialogue to chart the way forward.
A judicious intervention from the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs
Barely five months after the installation of Daasebre Akuamoah Boateng III as the new chief of Abene, the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, in a landmark ruling, has issued an interlocutory injunction barring him from presenting himself as the Omanhene (Kwahumanhene) of the Kwahu Traditional Area.
The Judicial Committee, in its ruling delivered in Koforidua on 26th June, 2025, also restrained six other individuals from presenting Baffour Akoto Osei as the paramount chief of Kwahu. According to the injunction, Daasebre Akuamoah Boateng III is prohibited from assuming or using the stool name, or from purporting to hold the position of Omanhene of Kwahu.
Furthermore, all seven respondents have been restrained from undertaking any action that may undermine or interfere with the authority and privileges of Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II, who remains the gazetted and legally recognised Omanhene of Kwahu, particularly at his palace in Abene.
This judicial pronouncement is a clear legal signal that the internal disputes require sober reflection, adherence to due process, and a renewed commitment to preserving the dignity of Kwahu’s traditional governance.
A Historical Perspective and a Spiritual Warning
Amid these legal developments, the voice of Ohemaa Akosua Asantewaa, of the Kwaafoɔ Royal Family, continues to resonate with remarkable clarity and ancestral authority. In a compelling statement reported by myjoyonline.com on 11th March 2025 [https://www.myjoyonline.com/kwaafo-kwahu-hemaa-nana-akosua-asantewaa-congratulates-new-kwahu-chief-on-his-inauguration/], Ohemaa Akosua Asantewaa asserted that the true custodianship of the Kwahu Kingdom belongs to the Kwaafoɔ Royal Family. She maintains that the chiefs of Abene, including Daasebre Akuamoah Boateng III and Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II, while recognised within Abene, do not have legitimate claim to the Kwahu paramountcy.
“I want Daasebre Akuamoah Boateng III to know that Kwahu has an owner, and I, Ohemaa Akosua Asantewaa, am the Kwahuwura,” she declared.
“People who know the truth are pretending otherwise due to greed and selfishness. They have formed a cabal against the Kwaafoɔ Royal Family… We stayed in the background for a while, but now we are back for good.”
Her statements were not inflammatory, but rather firm expressions of a spiritual and historical call for restoration. She made it abundantly clear that her mission is not to displace any chief or to seize land, but rather to reaffirm the rightful historical heritage of the Kwaafoɔ Royal Family, and to promote peace, unity, and development across the Kwahu Traditional Area.
Significantly, Ohemaa Akosua Asantewaa issued a spiritual caution, urging Daasebre Akuamoah Boateng III to seek her counsel and avoid repeating what she described as the mistakes of his predecessor. Her warnings suggest that ignoring ancestral truths and traditional authority may invoke spiritual consequences, a matter of great concern within the customs of Ghanaian chieftaincy.
“When the stool begins to strike, no one can suppress it. My words come from the supreme stool and the gods of our land. Anyone who opposes my authority will answer to the stool,” she cautioned.
The Underlying Issues: Pride, Greed, and Denial
At the core of this chieftaincy crisis lies a troubling combination of pride, self-interest, and historical denial. The refusal by some traditional leaders to recognise the ancestral authority of the Kwaafoɔ Royal Family – despite strong oral histories, lineage claims, and customary practices – is contributing to escalating tensions and confusion.
According to Ohemaa Akosua Asantewaa, the Kwaafo Royal stool was entrusted to seven caretaker chiefs, known as the “great sons of Anantuo Frimpong,” during the Kwaafoɔ family’s long absence. Now that the family has returned, she asserts that it is only right and customary that the stool is returned to its rightful lineage.
“I made them chiefs and entrusted the Kwaafoɔ Aduana Kwahu Stool to them for safekeeping. Now that I am back, it is only reasonable that they return it peacefully,” she stated.
Unfortunately, this appeal has not been met with the cooperation and humility that such a spiritual and cultural issue deserves. According to her, invitations extended to the Kwahu Traditional Council for peaceful engagements, including the “Mo Ne Yɔ” dialogue, were ignored – further deepening mistrust and alienation.
She Must Be at the Centre of Any Dialogue
Clearly, there is something Ohemaa Akosua Asantewaa knows that many others either do not know – or have chosen to ignore. Her deep spiritual insight, ancestral knowledge, and authority rooted in history position her as an indispensable voice in any dialogue or resolution process.
She must be at the centre of any sincere and lasting mediation. Because it seems obvious that without her input, any settlement risks being incomplete, shallow, and unsustainable. The truth she represents cannot be sidelined without consequence.
In line with this, the Kwaafoɔ Royal Stool, which birthed the Kwahu Kingdom, must be returned to its rightful owners, as she has consistently and respectfully demanded. This is not only a matter of custom but of spiritual balance. Ignoring this call could invite catastrophic consequences – not only legal, but cultural and spiritual.
A Kingdom at Risk of Losing Its Glory
Kwahu has long held the potential to rival some of Ghana’s most respected traditional regions, such as the Ashanti Kingdom. Yet, in Ohemaa Asantewaa’s words, the chieftaincy impasse and self-preservation tactics by some chiefs have weakened the kingdom’s credibility and undermined its development prospects.
“The chiefs, in their attempt to protect their personal gains, have damaged the Kwahu Kingdom. This is why Kwahu is not respected or developed like its contemporaries such as the Ashantis,” she lamented.
Indeed, the persistent disputes have not only fractured traditional leadership but have also delayed infrastructural, cultural, and economic advancement in the area. Kwahu’s image, once synonymous with progress and unity, is now being tainted by litigation and spiritual discord.
A Call for National Intervention
In light of the escalating tensions and unresolved legitimacy claims, it is critical that the Government of Ghana, particularly the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Kwahu Parliamentary Caucus and the National House of Chiefs, swiftly intervene and mediate this dispute with fairness and urgency.
The stakes are too high for indifference. If this matter is not handled with wisdom and equity, it could escalate into deeper community divisions and erode the respect and sanctity of traditional leadership in the Kwahu area.
Let the relevant national authorities call for calm, facilitate historical reviews, and engage all key voices, especially Ohemaa Akosua Asantewaa – in meaningful dialogue. Tradition, after all, must not be sacrificed on the altar of politics, self-interest, or silence.
Conclusion: Let Truth and Humility Lead Kwahu Forward
The restoration of peace in Kwahu lies not in legal victories or rhetorical dominance, but in truth, humility, and mutual respect. It is time for all parties involved, particularly the chiefs of Abene, to reassess their positions in light of history, law, and the spiritual weight of the stool.
Ohemaa Akosua Asantewaa has extended a hand of peace, backed by ancestral mandate. It would be wise and dignified for the Kwahu Traditional Council and all stakeholders to embrace dialogue, seek the truth, and allow the people of Kwahu to move forward in unity and development.
Kwahu deserves better. Kwahu deserves peace. And above all, Kwahu deserves truth.
By Edmond Gyebi
Edmond Gyebi is a journalist and social development advocate. He writes on governance, tradition, and national unity.