The Chief of Apedwa Osabarima, Frimpong Manso, has stated that the Apedwa stool is for the Ofori Panin within the Amantuomiensa section of the Benkum division of Akyem Abuakwa Traditional area.
He mentioned that Okyehene holds primordial ownership and control of Akyem Abuakwa lands extending from the Panpanso River in the east to the neighborhood to River Pra in the west and from the Kwahu border in the precincts of Jejeti in the north to the Densu River in the south of Nsawam.
This is contained in a press release in response to an earlier press conference organised by a group of people calling themselves principal opinion leaders of Akyem Apedwa and Mankata family of Panpanso at the press center in Accra on Tuesday.
At the said press conference, Opanin Samuel Kweku Obeng who introduced himself as the Asante Agona Abusuapanin of Akyem Apedwa, hinted that the overlord of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panain is not the allodial owner of Akyem Apedwa lands.
Meanwhile, Osabarima Frimpong Manso averred that the aforementioned press conference “was a public exhibition of deceit and manufactured historical facts and gross impersonation which borders on outright criminality.”
Osabarima Frimpong Manso explained that “COP (rtd) Kwasi Nkansah who has become the poster boy of Mr. Kofi Anokye, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Koans Building Solutions is not the Krontihene of Akyem Apedwa neither is he a member of the Council of Elders of the Akyem Apedwa Stool and he should therefore be ignored.”
He stressed that Okyehene holds primordial ownership and control of Akyem Abuakwa lands.
“Further to the above, the 2004 Akyem Abuakwa State Council Resolution on the grant of concessions and land allocations, reaffirmed the Akyem Abuakwa State Council declaration of 1918, to the effect that any land in Akyem Abuakwa before alienation should be known by Okyenhene and his consent obtained,” he noted.
Osabarima Frimpong Manso opined that, “Akyem Apedwa just as all subject stool to Ofori Panin has never and can never be exceptional and therefore firmly support all statement issued by the State Council Secretary of Okyeman Council in regards to this matter and share sentiment and concerns of the Okyeman Youth Association (OYA).”
“The claim that the Mankata family has transferred the right of ownership of 27,000 acres has no documentary proof either at the Akyem Apedwa palace or Akyem Abuakwa State archives at the Ofori Panin fie,” he said.
Osabarima Frimpong Manso encouraged all persons with prospective commercial interest and undertakings with the Mankata family with regards to Akyem Abuakwa lands to do so at their own risk, adding that, any person who seeks interest in Akyem Apedwa or any Akyem towns must first seek the consent of the chief who shall provide guidance and established procedures and documentations.”
