A divine intervention averted what could have been a deadly situation at Kwahu Abetifi in the Eastern Region over the weekend.
This was when a group of machete wielding young men and some elders of the Kwahu-Abetifi palace clashed with the Abrewatia of the Etenea-Bretuo family of Abetifi over performance of certain rites.
It all started when the elders and members of the Etenea-Bretuo family of Kwahu decided to organise a durbar to reintroduce and confirm the position of the Great Nana Yaa Asantewaa, as the Obapanin of the Kwahu Traditional Area.
The Mpraeso Circuit Court, presided over by Her Honour, Mrs Adwoa Akyeaawaa Ofosu, on Wednesday February 28, 2024 ruled in favour of the Great Nana Yaa Asantewaa, following a complaint lodged against her, Dei-Kumi chief and the larger Etenea and Bretuo family by a retired police officer, ACP Kwakye Ntiamoah.
On that faithful Saturday, the Etenea-Bretuo family had erected canopies with a loud public address system, dressed in T-shirts of different colours with inscriptions and pictures of Nana Yaa Asantewaa, to outdoor the latter.
Amid fanfare, the family proceeded to the home of local deity to pour libation to the gods. But opponents of the said Yaa Asantewaa opposed the idea and this resulted in a serious scuffle among the parties.
According to opponents of Yaa Asantewaa, even though the Abetifi palace recognises the Great Yaa Asantewaa as the Obapanin of the Etenea-Bretuo family, she has no mandate to carry herself around as the Abrewatia of the Kwahu Traditional Area.
Opponents of Yaa Asantewaa said prior warning was served on her to observe any ceremony she wanted to perform in her family house, and not outside, because she had no power to do so.
The Etenea-Bretuo Obaapanin, who calls herself the Great Nana Yaa Asantewaa, however, called the bluff of the palace and decided to make libation to one of the gods situated just some distance outside her family house.
This, the young angry men, who led the protest kicked against and, therefore, destroyed the canopies they had mounted and royal umbrella among others.
It took a handful of military and other private security guards to prevent the Abrewatia from being manhandled by the young men.
Speaking to the media later, Great Yaa Asantewaa indicated that members of the palace decided to attack her because she opposed the installation of the Kwahu Abetifi chief, Nana Asiedu Agyeman II, who doubles as Kwahu Adontenghene and Daasebre Akuamoa Agyapong II, Kwahumanhene.
On his part, Etena/Bretuo Abusuapanin, Opanin Nana Annor Asamoah called on traditional rulers in Kwahu to acknowledge the coming and importance of Obaapanin Great Yaa Asantewaa, since she is the embodiment of Kwahu.
Some media practitioners who were invited to provide coverage for the ceremony were chased out of the palace of Abetifi and also forced to delete pictures they had taken with their phones and cameras.
The media practitioners have to be sneaked out of the place with the support of the police in an effort to avert any untold story.
Background
Upon a court ruling from Mpraeso Circuit Court, dated 28th of February, 2024 which was between “The Republic versus Great Yaa Asantewaa” of Kwahu Abetifi in the Eastern region, Great Yaa Asantewaa was acquitted on three charges brought against her under the criminal offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
The counts are causing unlawful damage contrary to section 172, Unlawful entry contrary to section 152 and Stealing contrary to section 124.
The Complainant in the said case was retired police officer ACP Kwakye Ntiamoah and the Dei-Kumi chief of Abetifi, whilst the accused is the Obaapanin and Queen mother of the Dei-Kumi family and the larger Etenea and Bretuo family of Kwahu.
The Complainant claimed that on January 10, 2022 at about 6pm, he detected that thief or thieves had broken into the Black Stool room and made away with four (4) black stools belonging to the chief.
A report was made and the accused, who was highly suspected for the act was arrested and she subsequently admitted in her statement that she had taken the missing stools, but refused to release them.
The Obaapanin indicated that the Etenea -Bretuo family of Kwahu are descendants of the original Great Nana Yaa Asantewaa.
She continued that, in and about 1600, their great grandmother, the predecessor of the great Yaa Asantewaa brought four black stools from Adansi Ayaasi in the Ashanti Region, which are the original stools of Akuamoah Panin (Abetifi), Akuamoah Manu (Mampong), Akuamoah Mensah (Abene) and great Nana Yaa Asantewaa.
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