Accra: The current Okuapehemea, Nana Afua Nketiaah Obuo II, who was installed in 2017 from the Nketiaah Royal Family, faces challenges regarding the rightful occupant of the Ofori Kuma Stool. The installation followed the customary process to succeed the late Okuapehemea Nana Dokua I. In the Akuapem Traditional Area, it is the Queen Mother who holds the authority to select or nominate the occupant of the Ofori Kuma Stool for enstoolment.
According to Ghana News Agency, a statement from Mr. Raymond Bagnabu, the family's lawyer, detailed the legal issues that emerged following Nana Afua Nketiaah Obuo II's installation. These issues included a legal suit concerning the installation of a new Paramount Chief. Although she had nominated and installed a chief, the Regional House of Chiefs in the Eastern Region declared the nomination and enstoolment null and void on April 30, 2020, under Suit No; JC/ERHC/P1/2018. The decision was upheld by the National House of Chiefs in Suit No: NHC/1/2/2020, declaring the stool vacant due to non-compliance with customary law.
The National House of Chiefs affirmed the Eastern Regional House's directive, stating that the Queen Mother is the sole authority with the customary duty to nominate a candidate from the Sakyiaabea Royal Family for the vacant Ofori Kuma Stool. The Okuapehemea was instructed to restart the nomination process. The statement emphasized that since these judgments, no person has been selected or nominated for enstoolment as Okuapehene, rendering any self-proclaimed occupant an imposter.
The statement also highlighted that under Akropong Customary law, without an official Okuapehene, the annual Odwira festival, which honors the Akuapems' historic victory over the Ashantis at the Battle of Katamansu in 1826, can only proceed under the Okuapehemea's instructions. She is responsible for directing the Gyaasefo, the sub-chiefs tasked with performing all customs in preparation for the festival.