The Offinso Municipal Security Council in the Ashanti Region has expressed worry over recent developments regarding the title of Paramount Chief of the Offinso Traditional Area.
The Offinso Municipal Security Council has prohibited Dr. Kofi Koduah Sarpong, former boss of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), from claiming the title of Paramount Chief of the Offinso Traditional Area.
In efforts to maintain peace in the area, Dr. K.K. Sarpong has been advised against organizing or participating in any public events that suggest he holds the position of a chief.
This decision follows a viral social media video where Dr. Sarpong received greetings from supporters who referred to him as the rightful Offinsohene.
Chairman of the Municipal Security Council, Kingsley Owusu-Appiah has admitted the development is a security concern.
“Yes it is a security concern,” he told Joynews and explained that “So far as we are concerned, the security council is concerned, here we have two palaces. One is at Old Town and the other one is at New Town. K.K. Sarpong cannot go there to sit there as a chief.
“The video circulating, I haven’t seen it. May be he did it at his bedroom because he can’t do it at the open space because we have only one chief,“ Mr. Appiah added.
During a meeting of the Offinso Traditional Council on Monday, some members called for the transfer of police personnel, accusing them of compromising security management.
The new Offinsohene, Nana Dwamena Akenten, has cautioned against any actions that disrespect the authority of the Asantehene.
Nana Kwaku Wiafe, the Offinsohene’s linguist, expressed discontent with the conduct of the police in the area. He mentioned that despite the police presence, none of Dr. Sarpong’s supporters who took to the streets without a permit have been arrested.
In a letter dated March 14, 2024, the Offinso Municipal Security Council cautioned Dr. K.K. Sarpong, stating that he would be held responsible for any consequences arising from his proposed familiarisation tour of certain project sites.
The Council has implemented measures to prevent any potential escalation, including the permanent deployment of police personnel from the Formed Police Unit at both the Old and New Palaces to deny Dr. K.K. Sarpong and his associates access to the sites.
“We have only one chief in Offinso and he’s called Nana Dwamena Akenten II. So all these things, like I said, maybe he’s doing it in his bedroom. So here, you know, you’ve been in town. There’s peace here so K.K. Sarpong is not a chief.”
“In Ashanti region, you can’t fight Otumfuo. This is what Otumfuo has said and Otumfuo has allowed Nana Dwamena Akenten to swear and he swore before his sub-chiefs and the sub-chiefs have sworn before him too,” Mr. Owusu-Appiah said.
He continued, “(Dr.) K.K. Sarpong cannot sit in public and claim himself to be a chief. You know, the security council will not allow that for people to go and pay homage.”
Following the passing of Offinsohene, Nana Wiafe Akenten III, the competition for the selection of a new paramount chief for Offinso intensified.
The former GNPC boss, Dr. K.K Sarpong, faced rejection twice by the Asantehene when he was presented as a candidate by the embattled Offinso queenmother, Nana Ama Serwaa Nyarko.
However, the Asantehene later accepted a new candidate who pledged allegiance under the stool name Nana Dwamena Akenten II.
The events leading up to the enstoolment resulted in Nana Serwaa Nyarko losing her chieftaincy after she was destooled by the Asantehene for insubordination.
In a letter dated March 13, 2024, the embattled queenmother informed the Offinso Municipal Chief Executive of Dr. K.K Sarpong’s nomination as the new Omanhene.
In a separate development, the Asona-Akonkodiase royal family has pledged allegiance to the new Omanhene while disowning the ex-queen mother, who is a member of the family.
Family spokesperson Akwasi Owusu Afriyie stated that the family is disappointed by the ex-queen mother’s actions, as she abandoned the family to nominate an outsider as her successor.
“She became a queen mother because she is a family member of Akonkodiase family. She rather disowned us because at least, she was given the mandate to choose somebody from any of the two families. We thought that she will choose somebody from us but she didn’t.”