Tension at Kumawu over installation of new Omanhene
Scores of armed soldiers were deployed to Kumawu in the Ashanti region to maintain peace as the process for the installation of a new Omanhene of the area got quite murky.
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Two of the royal families – Ananagya and Odumase - vehemently opposed the nominee, Dr Sarfo Asante, a medical officer who is the brother of the queenmother.
The nominee is from the Ankaase Royal Family.
To back their stance, the Abusuapanin of the Ananagya family, Opanin Kwabena Darkwa, went ahead to invoke Otumfuo’s Great Oath (Ntamkesie) to stop the consideration of the nominee.
On August 23, 2013, the Asanteman Council, chaired by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, ruled in favour of Nana Serwah Amponsah in the seven-year-old Kumawu chieftaincy dispute, paving the way for the process of the installation of a new Omanhene to begin.
The ruling brought a sigh of relief to the people of the traditional area, who had to live in fear for a long time.
A group from the Kumawu royal family had invoked the Asantehene’s Great Oath to the effect that the queen mother, who was enstooled 23 years ago, was of Fulani descent and was therefore unfit to occupy the stool.
However, the Asanteman Council dismissed the allegation and declared the queenmother a true royal.
Following the ruling, Nana Amponsah went ahead to nominate Dr Sarfo Asante for consideration by the kingmakers to succeed the late Barima Asumadu Sakyi, who passed away eight years ago.
Eyewitnesses told the Daily Graphic today that even though there were no disturbances in the town, tension was very high as the opposing factions fought to stall the process.
With the invocation of the Great Oath, it is likely the case will go back to the Asantehene to determine whether the nominee is qualified or not.
When the Daily Graphic called the queenmother on phone, she said she was busy attending to some matters.
