Reports from Offinso in the Ashanti Region indicate that the deposed queen mother is displaying behaviors that suggest she is contesting her removal from office.
Nana Ama Serwaa Nyarko, despite being officially destooled in January 2024 by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has reportedly appointed a new paramount chief for the area.
This action contradicts the current situation where a new chief has already been appointed and sworn in before the Asantehene.
The former queen mother had been engaged in a dispute with the Otumfuo over the selection of a new Offinsomanhene throughout 2023.
She persisted in presenting Dr. KK Sarpong, the former boss of the Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC), despite his rejection by the Otumfuo on three occasions due to his non-royal status in the area.
Following reports of her appointment of Dr. KK Sarpong, a video has surfaced on social media, particularly on Facebook, showing the former GNPC boss receiving homage from individuals believed to be his supporters.
In the video, a group of women can be seen singing praises and paying respects to Dr. KK Sarpong, who is seated on a large chair with his feet propped up on a stool.
Some of the women can be heard expressing their support for Dr. KK Sarpong as the rightful chief, referring to any other claimant as illegitimate.
This event reportedly took place during the current week.
Additionally, GhanaWeb has obtained a letter on the queen mother’s letterhead introducing Dr. KK Sarpong as the paramount chief to the Offinso Municipal Assembly, as well as a letter from the Assembly warning against any procession by the opposing faction.
Earlier in the week, a crowd marched to the former queen mother’s residence chanting for a new chief for the Offinso traditional area. Many of these disgruntled residents advocated for Dr. KK Sarpong to be appointed as chief, as he was initially endorsed by the kingmakers.
Most of these residents, who wore funeral clothes to portray their seriousness and sadness over the claim of ‘no chief in the town’, chanted, “We want our new chief, K.K. Sarpong”.
Background:
Dr. Kofi Kodua Sarpong was initially elected by the Ofinso queen mother, Nana Ama Serwaa Nyarko, and the other kingmakers to succeed the late Nana Wiafe Akenteng, but he was disqualified by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II for not being a royal.
A new chief, Nana Amoako Poku, has since been enstooled by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. This occurred after the Kwakwaboa Abusuapanin, Opanin Yaw Nkrumah Adusah, assumed the queen’s mother’s responsibility in her absence and presented the new candidate.
During the installation of the new chief, there were rumours that Otumfuo Osei Tutu II had destooled the queen mother of Offinso for failing to honour his invitations.